This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Radiogenomic Analysis of F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Gene Expression Data Elucidates the Epidemiological Complexity of Colorectal Cancer Landscape.
Specimen part
View SamplesColorectal cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, with variable molecular pathogenesis, involving multiple genomic and epigenetic alterations. Despite the significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially for countries in Northern America and Europe, as also in New Zealand & Australia. In this direction, the introduction of gene expression signatures derived from multiple layers of molecular & clinical dissection, may resolve the problems of heterogeneity and improve robust disease stratification
Radiogenomic Analysis of F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Gene Expression Data Elucidates the Epidemiological Complexity of Colorectal Cancer Landscape.
Specimen part
View SamplesColorectal cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, with variable molecular pathogenesis, involving multiple genomic and epigenetic alterations. Despite the significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially for countries in Northern America and Europe, as also in New Zealand & Australia. In this direction, the introduction of gene expression signatures derived from multiple layers of molecular & clinical dissection, may resolve the problems of heterogeneity and improve robust disease stratification.
Radiogenomic Analysis of F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Gene Expression Data Elucidates the Epidemiological Complexity of Colorectal Cancer Landscape.
Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: The goal of this study is to understand how dbl-1, which is made primarily in neurons, and hrg-7, which is exclusively made in the intestine, contribute to systemic heme homeostasis. Methods: mRNA profiles of late L4 dbl-1(nk3) and hrg-7(tm6801) mutant C. elegans fed OP50 E. coli or OP50 + 50µM heme were compared to mRNA profiles from wildtype (WT) broodmates. Profiles were generated with single-end 50 base reads obtained using Illumina’s HiSeq 2500. Bioinformatics quality control was performed followed by alignment of reads to the ce10 reference genome using Tophat2, version 2.1.0. We found differentially expressed genes using Cufflinks 2, version 2.2.1 with a cutoff of 0.05 on False Discovery Rate (FDR). Results: We found a substantial overlap of genes regulated by both dbl-1 and hrg-7, including 49 heme-responsive genes (hrgs) in low heme (OP50) and 11 hrgs in high heme (OP50 + 50µM). Additionally, our data indicate crosstalk between dbl-1 and hrg-7 signaling. dbl-1 directly regulates hrg-7 expression, while hrg-7 regulates three components of the dbl-1 signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that communication between the neuron and intestine is essential for heme homeostasis. Specifically, we report that HRG-7 functions as a secreted signaling factor which communicates intestinal heme status with extraintestinal tissues by integrating a DBL-1/BMP -dependent response from the neurons to transcriptionally regulate genes involved in heme homeostasis. Cellular requirements for heme are fulfilled by a cell’s internal capacity to synthesize its own heme in a cell-autonomous manner. However, growing evidence in vertebrates predicts that cellular heme levels in animals are not only maintained by heme synthesis, but also by distally located proteins that could signal systemic heme requirements to an inter-organ heme trafficking network through cell-nonautonomous regulation. Using C. elegans, a genetically and optically amenable animal model for visualizing heme-dependent signaling, we show that HRG-7, an aspartic protease homolog, mediates inter-organ signaling between the intestine and neuron. Loss of hrg-7 results in robust expression of intestinal heme importers and, remarkably, this occurs even under heme replete conditions when such transporters are not normally expressed. HRG-7 functions as a secreted signaling factor, independent of a functional enzymatic active site, and communicates intestinal heme status with extraintestinal tissues by integrating a DBL-1/BMP -dependent response from the neurons to transcriptionally regulate intestinal heme homeostasis. Given the evidence indicating that mechanisms of heme transport are conserved across metazoa, it is conceivable that the cell-nonautonomous signaling framework that we uncovered in C. elegans may have functional relevance for inter-organ regulation of iron and heme metabolism in humans. Overall design: Comparison of mRNA profiles from dbl-1(nk3) mutant C. elegans vs. wildtype (WT) broodmates and hrg-7(tm6801) mutants vs (WT) broomates fed OP50 E. coli or OP50 + 50µM heme. Biological duplicates were analyzed for dbl-1(nk3) mutants and (WT) broodmates. Biological triplicates were analyzed for hrg-7(tm6801) mutants and (WT) broodmates.
Inter-organ signalling by HRG-7 promotes systemic haem homeostasis.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesCTCF is a master regulator that plays a role in genome architecture and gene expression. A key aspect of CTCF’s mechanism involves bringing together distant genetic elements for intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions. Evidence from epigenetic processes, such as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), suggests that CTCF may carry out its functions through interacting RNAs. Using genome-wide approaches to investigate the relationship between CTCF’s RNA interactome and its epigenomic landscape, here we report that CTCF interacts with thousands of transcripts in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC), many in close proximity to CTCF’s genomic binding sites. Biochemical analysis demonstrates that CTCF is a high-affinity RNA binding protein that contacts RNA directly and specifically. In the XCI model, CTCF binds the active and inactive X-chromosomes allele-specifically. At the X-inactivation center, Tsix RNA binds CTCF and targets CTCF to a region associated with X-chromosome pairing. Our work implicates CTCF-RNA interactions in long-range chromosomal interactions in trans and adds a new layer of complexity to CTCF regulation. The genome-wide datasets reported here will provide a useful resource for further study of CTCF-mediated epigenomic regulation. Overall design: CTCF RNA interactome was identified by UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (CLIP-seq), and was compared to CTCF''s epigenomic landscape as obtained by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq).
Locus-specific targeting to the X chromosome revealed by the RNA interactome of CTCF.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesE-cadherin, a protein encoded by the CDH1 gene is the dominant epithelial cell adhesion molecule playing a crucial role in epithelial tissue polarity and structural integrity. The progression of 90% or more carcinomas is believed to be mediated by disruption of normal E-cadherin expression, subcellular localization or function. Despite the strong correlation between E-cadherin loss and malignancy the mechanism through how this occurs is not known in most sporadic and hereditary epithelial carcinomas. Previous works have shown the importance of CDH1 intron 2 sequences for proper gene and protein expression supporting the possibility of these being cis-modulators of E-cadherin expression/function. but when co-expressed it led to reduced cell-cell adhesiveness, increased invasion and angiogenesis. By expression array analysis, IFITM1 and IFI27 levels were found to be increased upon CDH1a overexpression. Importantly, CDH1a was found to be de novo expressed in gastric cancer cell lines when compared to normal stomach.
Transcription initiation arising from E-cadherin/CDH1 intron2: a novel protein isoform that increases gastric cancer cell invasion and angiogenesis.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesDifferent human mTEC subsets (MUC1, CEACAM5 and SGLT1) were purified by sequential enzymatic digestion (collagenase/dispase, trypsin) followed by enrichment using magnetic beads (CD45 beads, Miltenyi Biotech) and FACS sorting. Cells of the surface phenotype CD45-, CDR2-, EpCAM+ were further subdivided into MUC1+/MUC1-, CEACAM5+/CEACAM5- and SGLT1+/SGLT1- fractions. RNA was isolated using MACS SuperAmp protocol (Miltenyi Biotec) and hybridized to Illumina Whole-Genome Expression Beadchips. Gene expression of Antigen-positive and Antigen-negative mTEC subsets was compared.
Overlapping gene coexpression patterns in human medullary thymic epithelial cells generate self-antigen diversity.
Specimen part
View SamplesInsect hemocytes mediate important cellular immune responses including phagocytosis and encapsulation, and also secrete immune factors such as opsonins, melanization factors, and antimicrobial peptides. In Anopheles, they contribute to the defense against malaria parasite invasion during the early sporogonic cycle. We used microarrays to identify transcripts that are specific or enriched in circulating hemocytes compared to either neuronal or to the rest of the body.
Discovery of Plasmodium modulators by genome-wide analysis of circulating hemocytes in Anopheles gambiae.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesInsect hemocytes mediate important cellular immune responses including phagocytosis and encapsulation, and also secrete immune factors such as opsonins, melanization factors, and antimicrobial peptides. In Anopheles, they contribute to the defense against malaria parasite invasion during the early sporogonic cycle.
Discovery of Plasmodium modulators by genome-wide analysis of circulating hemocytes in Anopheles gambiae.
Specimen part
View SamplesAbout 50% of human malignancies exhibit unregulated signalling through the Ras-ERK1/2 (ERK) pathway, as a consequence of activating mutations in members of Ras and Raf families. However, the quest for alternative Ras-ERK pathway-directed therapies is desirable. Upon phosphorylation ERK dimerize. We had previously demonstrated that dimerization is essential for ERK extranuclear but not nuclear signaling. Furthermore, by molecular biology approaches, we showed that specifically inhibiting ERK extranuclear component, by impeding ERK dimerization, is sufficient for curtailing tumor progression. Here, we have identified a small molecule inhibitor for ERK dimerization in vitro and in vivo that, without affecting ERK phosphorylation, prevents tumorigenesis driven by Ras-ERK pathway oncogenes, both in cellular and animal models. Importantly, this compound is unaffected by resistance-acquisition processes that hamper “classical” Ras-ERK pathway inhibitors. Thus, ERK dimerization inhibitors provide the proof of principle for two novel concepts in cancer therapy: 1) The blockade of sublocalization-specific sub-signals, rather than total signals, as a means of effectively counteracting oncogenic Ras-ERK signaling. 2) Targeting regulatory protein-protein interactions such as dimerization, rather than catalytic activities, within a signaling route, as an approach for producing effective anti-tumoral agents. Strategies aimed at preventing aberrant flux through this route remain an attractive option for therapeutic intervention in cancer. In this respect, drugs inhibiting the kinase activities of BRaf and MEK have yielded promising results. Overall design: A375p cells treated with10 µM of either DEL22379, SCH772984 or DMSO as a control for two hours. mRNA from A375p cells was extrated using RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer''s instructions. Cells were previously treated with10 µM of either DEL22379, SCH772984 or DMSO as a control for two hours.
Small Molecule Inhibition of ERK Dimerization Prevents Tumorigenesis by RAS-ERK Pathway Oncogenes.
No sample metadata fields
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