The functional shift of quiescent endothelial cells into tip cells that migrate and stalk cells that proliferate is a key event during sprouting angiogenesis. We previously showed that the sialomucin CD34 is expressed in a small subset of cultured endothelial cells and that these cells extend filopodia: a hallmark of tip cells in vivo. In the present study, we characterized endothelial cells expressing CD34 in endothelial monolayers in vitro. We found that CD34-positive human umbilical vein endothelial cells show low proliferation activity and increased mRNA expression of all known tip cell markers, as compared to CD34- negative cells. Genome-wide mRNA profiling analysis of CD34-positive endothelial cells demonstrated enrichment for biological functions related to angiogenesis and migration, whereas CD34-negative cells were enriched for functions related to proliferation. In addition, we found an increase or decrease of CD34-positive cells in vitro upon exposure to stimuli that enhance or limit the number of tip cells in vivo, respectively. Our findings suggest cells with virtually all known properties of tip cells are present in vascular endothelial cell cultures and that they can be isolated based on expression of CD34. This novel strategy may open alternative avenues for future studies of molecular processes and functions in tip cells in angiogenesis.
CD34 marks angiogenic tip cells in human vascular endothelial cell cultures.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesSolid cancers develop within a supportive microenvironment that promotes tumor formation and continued growth through the elaboration of mitogens and chemokines. Within these tumors, monocytes (macrophages and microglia) represent rich sources of these stromal factors. Leveraging a genetically-engineered mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) low-grade brain tumor (optic glioma), previous studies have demonstrated that microglia are important for glioma formation and maintenance. To identify the tumor-associated microglial factors that support glioma growth (gliomagens), we employed a comprehensive large scale discovery effort using optimized advanced RNA-sequencing methods. Candidate gliomagens were prioritized to identify potential secreted or membrane-bound proteins, which were next validated by quantitative RT-PCR and RNA FISH following minocycline-mediated microglial inactivation in vivo. Using these selection criteria, Ccl5 was identified as a highly expressed chemokine in both genetically engineered Nf1 mouse and human optic gliomas. As a candidate gliomagen, recombinant Ccl5 increased Nf1-deficient optic nerve astrocyte growth in vitro. Importantly, consistent with its critical role in maintaining tumor growth, Ccl5 inhibition with neutralizing antibodies reduced Nf1 mouse optic glioma growth in vivo. Collectively, these findings establish Ccl5 as critical stromal growth factor in low-grade glioma maintenance relevant to future microglia-targeted therapies for brain tumors. Overall design: Nf1 optic glioma associated microglia from mice were flow sorted. Upregulated genes of glioma associated microglia were verified and further examined.
RNA Sequencing of Tumor-Associated Microglia Reveals Ccl5 as a Stromal Chemokine Critical for Neurofibromatosis-1 Glioma Growth.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesCellular immunotherapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of hematological cancers by donor lymphocyte infusion after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and more recently by targeted therapy with chimeric antigen or T-cell receptor-engineered T-cells. However, dependent on the tissue distribution of the antigens that are targeted, anti-tumor responses can be accompanied by undesired side effects. Therefore, detailed tissue distribution analysis is essential to estimate efficacy and toxicity of candidate targets for immunotherapy of hematological malignancies. In this study, we performed microarray gene expression analysis of hematological malignancies of different origins, healthy hematopoietic cells and various non-hematopoietic cell types from organs that are often targeted in detrimental immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation leading to graft-versus-host disease. Non-hematopoietic cells were also cultured in the presence of IFN- to analyze gene expression under inflammatory circumstances. Gene expression was investigated by Illumina HT12.0 microarrays and quality control analysis was performed to confirm the cell-type origin and exclude contamination of non-hematopoietic cell samples with peripheral blood cells. Microarray data were validated by quantitative RT-PCR showing strong correlation between both platforms. Detailed gene expression profiles were generated for various minor histocompatibility antigens and B-cell surface antigens to illustrate the value of the microarray dataset to estimate efficacy and toxicity of candidate targets for immunotherapy. In conclusion, our microarray database provides a relevant platform to analyze and select candidate antigens with hematopoietic (lineage)-restricted expression as potential targets for immunotherapy of hematological cancers.
Integrated Whole Genome and Transcriptome Analysis Identified a Therapeutic Minor Histocompatibility Antigen in a Splice Variant of ITGB2.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesHeparan sulfate (HS), a long linear polysaccharide, is implicated in various steps of tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis. We successfully interfered with HS biosynthesis using a peracetylated 4-deoxy analog of the HS constituent GlcNAc and studied the compounds metabolic fate and its effect on angiogenesis. The 4-deoxy analog was activated intracellularly into UDP-4-deoxy-GlcNAc and HS expression was inhibited up to ~96% (IC50 = 16 M). HS chain size was reduced, without detectable incorporation of the 4-deoxy analog, likely due to reduced levels of UDP-GlcNAc and/or inhibition of glycosyltransferase activity. Comprehensive gene expression analysis revealed reduced expression of genes regulated by HS binding growth factors as FGF-2 and VEGF. Cellular binding and signaling of these angiogenic factors was inhibited. Micro-injection in zebrafish embryos strongly reduced HS biosynthesis, and angiogenesis was inhibited in both zebrafish and chicken model systems. All these data identify 4-deoxy-GlcNAc as a potent inhibitor of HS synthesis which hampers pro-angiogenic signaling and neo-vessel formation.
Interfering with UDP-GlcNAc metabolism and heparan sulfate expression using a sugar analogue reduces angiogenesis.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesInterferon gamma treatment of macrophages results in hundreds if not thousands of alterations in gene expression and an antiviral state being established in these cells. Little is known about relationship between transcript synthesis, abundance and decay in macrophages during the first hours after interferon gamma treatment and how these factors influence the antiviral cellular phenotype.
An Interferon Regulated MicroRNA Provides Broad Cell-Intrinsic Antiviral Immunity through Multihit Host-Directed Targeting of the Sterol Pathway.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Gene expression profiling analysis of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene-induced transcriptional program in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells.
Cell line
View SamplesChildren with acute measles were admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Peripheral blood was collected at hospital entry, discharge and 1-month follow-up. Control samples were also collected from uninfected children. All children were HIV negative.
Gene expression changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during measles virus infection.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHuman CD14+ monocytes were isolated and grown in GM-CSF and IL-4 for six days. The cells were then infected with measles virus, Chicago-1 strain, and RNA was isolated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours post-infection.
Gene expression patterns in dendritic cells infected with measles virus compared with other pathogens.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy. To date, advanced and nonresectable MEC have poor prognosis and no effective treatment. The CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene, which is associated with more than 50% of MEC, consists of the N-terminal CREB-binding domain of the CREB transcriptional co-activator CRTC1 and the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of the Notch transcriptional co-activator MAML2. CRTC1-MAML2 fusion was found to interact with CREB and constitutively activate their transcriptional targets. To investigate the contribution of the transcription factor CREB to mediate the fusion target gene expression, gene expression profiling analysis were performed in two salivary gland tumor cell lines (including fusion-positive H3118 MEC cells and fusion-negative HSY parotid adenocarcinoma cells) before and after CREB knockdown. This study demonstrated that CRTC1-MAML2 co-activation of CREB is a major mechanism underlying CRTC1-MAML2-mediated transcriptional regulation.
Gene expression profiling analysis of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene-induced transcriptional program in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells.
Cell line
View SamplesMucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy. To date, advanced and nonresectable MEC have poor prognosis and no effective treatment. The CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene, which is associated with more than 50% of MEC, consists of the N-terminal CREB-binding domain of the CREB transcriptional co-activator CRTC1 and the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of the Notch transcriptional co-activator MAML2. CRTC1-MAML2 fusion was found to interact with CREB and constitutively activate their transcriptional targets. To investigate the genes and pathways regulated by CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene, gene expression profiling analysis were performed in human fusion-positive MEC cells before and after knockdown of both CRTC1-MAML2 and MAML2 as well as in human fusion-negative salivary gland cancer cells before and after MAML2 knockdown only. This study revealed specific transcriptional program induced by the CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene, which potentially mediates CRC1-MAML2 functions in MEC initiation and maintenance. The information will be useful for developing new approaches to block CRTC1-MAML2 fusion-expressing MEC.
Gene expression profiling analysis of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene-induced transcriptional program in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells.
Cell line
View Samples