Endothelial cells (EC) lining arteries and veins have distinct molecular and functional signatures. The (epi)genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying this heterogeneity in human EC are incompletely understood. Using genome-wide microarray screening we established a specific fingerprint of freshly isolated arterial (HUAEC) and venous EC (HUVEC) from human umbilical cord comprising 64 arterial and 12 venous genes, representing distinct functions and pathways. Among the arterial genes were 8 transcription factors, including HEY2, a downstream target of Notch signaling and the current golden standard pathway for arterial EC specification. Short-term culture of HUAEC or HUVEC abrogated differential gene expression resulting in a default state. Erasure of arterial gene expression was at least in part due to loss of canonical Notch activity and HEY2 expression. Notably, nCounter analysis revealed that restoring HEY2 expression or Delta-like 4 (Dll4)-induced Notch signaling in cultured HUVEC or HUAEC only partially reinstated the arterial EC gene signature while combined overexpression of the 8 transcription factors restored this fingerprint much more robustly. Each transcription factor had a different impact on gene regulation, with some stimulating only few and others boosting a large proportion of arterial genes. Interestingly, although there was some overlap and cross-regulation, the transcription factors largely complemented each other in regulating the arterial EC gene profile. Thus, our study showed that Notch signaling determines only part of the arterial EC signature and identified additional novel and complementary transcriptional players in the complex regulation of human arteriovenous EC identity
Unraveling a novel transcription factor code determining the human arterial-specific endothelial cell signature.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to gain insight into the molecular heterogeneity of capillary endothelial cells derived from different organs by microarray profiling of freshly isolated cells and identify transcription factors that may determine the specific gene expression profile of endothelial cells from different tissues. The study focused on heart endothelial cells and presents a validated signature of 31 genes that are highly enriched in heart endothelial cells. Within this signature 5 transcription factors were identified and the optimal combination of these transcription factors was determined for specification of the heart endothelial fingerprint.
Meox2/Tcf15 heterodimers program the heart capillary endothelium for cardiac fatty acid uptake.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesCombined treatment with NRG-1 and DMSO led to efficient differentiation of iPS into mature ventricular-like cardiac cells, which were capable of preserving cardiac function and tissue viability when transplanted into a mouse model of myocardial infarction.
Neuregulin-1β induces mature ventricular cardiac differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells contributing to cardiac tissue repair.
Sex
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesHistone deacetylases (HDACs) have been identified as therapeutic targets due to regulatory function in DNA structure and organization. We have analyzed the role of the LBH589, a novel pan inhibitor of class I and II HDACs, in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In vitro, LBH589 was shown to induce a dose dependent antiproliferative and apoptotic effect which was associated with an increase in the acetylation of H3 and H4 histone acetylation which was uniformly in every genetic subgroup of ALL. In vivo administration of LBH589 in BALB/c-RAG2-/-c-/- mice in which T and B-cell leukemic cell lines were injected induced a significant reduction in tumor growth (TOM-1, p<0.01 and MOLT-4 p<0.05). Leukemic cells from patients were employed to establish a xenograft model of human leukemia in BALB/c-RAG2-/-c-/- mice and further transplanted in consecutive generations of mice. Treatment of these xenografts with LBH589 induced an increase in the acetylation of H3 and H4 and prolonged the survival of mice in comparison with the animals treated with Vincristine and Dexametasone (p<0.05) and this effect was significantly higher when LBH589 was combined with Vincristine and Dexametasone (p<0.001). Our results that the use of LBH589 in combination with standard chemotherapy represents an attractive option for treatment of patients with ALL.
Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Cell line
View Samples