Tumor progression is associated with an immunosuppressive microenvironment that consists of several elements, such as regulatory T cells, type 2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Here, we identify for the first time a BDCA1+CD14+ population of immunosuppressive cells that resides both in the blood and tumor of melanoma patients. We demonstrated that the presence of these cells in dendritic cell (DC)-based anti-tumor vaccines significantly suppresses CD4+ T cells in an antigen-specific manner. In an attempt to reveal the mechanism of this suppressive activity, we noticed that BDCA1+CD14+ cells express elevated levels of the check-point molecule PD-L1, which thereby hinders T cell proliferation. Importantly, although this suppressive BDCA1+CD14+ population expresses markers of both BDCA1+ DCs and monocytes, functional, transcriptome and proteome analyses clearly revealed that they comprise a unique population of cells that is exploited by tumors to evade immunity. Thus, targeting these cells may improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Overall design: mRNA profiles of BDCA1+ DCs, BDCA1+CD14+ cells and monocytes, isolated from 3 healthy volunteers, were generated by deep RNA sequencing using HiSeq 2000 System (TruSeq SBS KIT-HS V3,Illumina)
Expansion of a BDCA1+CD14+ Myeloid Cell Population in Melanoma Patients May Attenuate the Efficacy of Dendritic Cell Vaccines.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesExpression levels of the RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI) are low in monocytes of early, human atherosclerotic lesions, but abundant in macrophages of advanced plaques. Specific depletion of QKI protein impaired monocyte adhesion, migration, differentiation into macrophages, and foam cell formation in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq and microarray analysis of human monocyte and macrophage transcriptomes, including those of a unique QKI haploinsufficient patient, revealed striking changes in QKI-dependent mRNA levels and splicing of RNA transcripts. Overall design: RNA-seq analysis of primary monocytes and macrophages from a QKI haploinsufficient patient and their (control) sibling.
Quaking promotes monocyte differentiation into pro-atherogenic macrophages by controlling pre-mRNA splicing and gene expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesInhibition of the costimulatory CD40-CD40L receptor/ligand dyad drastically reduces atherosclerosis. However, its long-term blockage can result in immune suppression. We recently identified small molecule inhibitors that block the interaction between CD40 and TNF Receptor Associated Factor (TRAF) 6 (TRAF-STOPs), while leaving CD40-TRAF2/3/5 interactions intact, thereby preserving CD40-mediated immunity. Here we further characterized the working mechanisms of TRAF-STOPs 6877002 and 6860766 in atherogenesis.
Targeting CD40-Induced TRAF6 Signaling in Macrophages Reduces Atherosclerosis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThe intercalated disc of cardiac myocytes is emerging as a crucial structure in the heart. Loss of intercalated disc proteins like N-cadherin causes lethal cardiac abnormalities, mutations in intercalated disc proteins cause human cardiomyopathy. A comprehensive screen for novel mechanisms in failing hearts demonstrated that expression of the lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2) is increased in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in both rat and human myocardium. Complete loss of LIMP-2 in genetically engineered mice did not affect cardiac development; however these LIMP-2 null mice failed to mount a hypertrophic response to increased blood pressure but developed cardiomyopathy. Disturbed cadherin localization in these hearts suggested that LIMP-2 has important functions outside lysosomes. Indeed, we also find LIMP-2 in the intercalated disc, where it associates with cadherin. RNAi-mediated knockdown of LIMP-2 decreases the binding of phosphorylated b-catenin to cadherin, while overexpression of LIMP-2 has the opposite effect. Taken together, our data show that lysosomal integrated membrane protein-2 is crucial to mount the adaptive hypertrophic response to cardiac loading. We demonstrate a novel role for LIMP-2 as an important mediator of the intercalated disc.
Lysosomal integral membrane protein 2 is a novel component of the cardiac intercalated disc and vital for load-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo study differentially expressed genes in neuro-ectodermal cell lines
Downregulation of Axl in non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma cell lines reduces migration.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesResponse to allergen was studied in bronchial epithelial cell line H292. Cells were cultured and subsequently exposed to House dust mite or vessel (saline)
Allergen induced gene expression of airway epithelial cells shows a possible role for TNF-alpha.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHigh anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein levels may be correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in neuroblastoma (NBL) patients, regardless of ALK mutation status. We therefore examined the correlation between levels of ALK, phosphorylated ALK (pALK) and downstream signaling proteins and response to ALK inhibition in a large panel of both ALK mutated (MUT) and wild type (WT) NBL cell lines. Six of the nineteen NBL cell lines had a point mutation and four an amplification of the ALK gene. ALK amplified cell lines showed similar ALK levels and ALK inhibitor sensitivity as WT cell lines and were therefore co-analyzed. The ALK mRNA (p=0.043), ALK 220 kDa (p=0.009) and ALK 140 kDa (p=0.025) protein levels were higher in ALK mutant (n=6) than WT cell lines (n=13). ALK mRNA and protein levels significantly correlated with ERK1 and ERK2 protein levels, and also with PHOX2B mRNA levels, a neural differentiation marker which is mutated in NBL. Response to ALK inhibitor TAE684 was also significantly correlated with ALK levels. ALK mutant cell lines (n=4) demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards ALK inhibitor TAE684 (14.9 fold more sensitive, p=0.004) than eight WT cell lines. These results underline the importance of ALK mutations but also ALK levels for response to ALK inhibitors in NBL cell lines. Furthermore, the strong correlation of PHOX2B and ALK suggests that neural differentiation stage may be correlated with ALK levels in neuroblastoma. These data will enhance understanding of ALK inhibitor response in future patient trials.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor response in neuroblastoma is highly correlated with ALK mutation status, ALK mRNA and protein levels.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe leg of healthy volunteers was locally deconditioned using three weeks of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS). The extremely deconditioned legs of subjects with a spinal cord injury (SCI) were trained using eight weeks of functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercise, 2-3 times per week (total 20 sessions).
Expression of genes involved in fatty acid transport and insulin signaling is altered by physical inactivity and exercise training in human skeletal muscle.
Subject, Time
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Epigenetic drug combination induces genome-wide demethylation and altered gene expression in neuro-ectodermal tumor-derived cell lines.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesAbstract: Epigenetic alterations are a fundamental aspect of cancer cells, and epigenetic drugs are currently used in clinical practice for hematological malignancies. Pediatric neuro-ectodermal tumors originate from neural crest cells and show epigenetic defects of apoptotic pathways, which makes the introduction of epigenetic drugs in this patient category logical. However, the young age of these patients is accompanied by ongoing developmental processes which are regulated epigenetic mechanisms, and prompted us to study molecular effects of nanomolar dosage epigenetic drugs in neuro-ectodermal tumor cell lines. Combination treatment of 5-aza-2`-deoxicytidine (DAC) and Trichostatin A (TSA) at nanomolar dosages resulted in wide-spread demethylating effects in 17 NBL and 5 PNET cell lines in vitro. This widespread demethylation had large effects on gene-expression profiles. In NBL cell lines, almost every cellular pathway (193/200) investigated demonstrated altered expression upon treatment, and resulted in upregulation of known epigenetically regulated genes such as X-chromosomal, tissue-specific, and a few imprinted genes. Integration analysis of CpG island methylation array data and whole genome gene expression data identified 30 genes potentially upregulated by gene promoter demethylation. Homeobox genes frequently showed demethylation in both short term (72 hours) and long term cultures (3 months) of NBL lines. Continuous treatment with epigenetic drugs resulted in low rates of proliferation. The low rate of proliferation that might explain limited consecutive demethylation upon prolonged exposure. In conclusion, genome-wide methylation and gene expression changes are induced DAC and TSA treatment at nanomolar dosages. These effects affected more than 97% of cellular pathways investigated. Further studies towards the effects of epigenetic drug combinations are advised before being applied in clinical trials for pediatric patients.
Epigenetic drug combination induces genome-wide demethylation and altered gene expression in neuro-ectodermal tumor-derived cell lines.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line
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