Purpose: A 128-gene signature has been proposed to predict poor outcomes in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer. In the present study we aimed to validate this previously published 128-gene signature on external and independent data from patients with stage II and III colon cancer.
Gene expression profiles in stages II and III colon cancers: application of a 128-gene signature.
Sex, Age, Disease stage, Race
View SamplesFetal and adult -globin gene expression is tightly regulated during human development. Fetal globin genes are transcriptionally silenced during embryogenesis through the process of hemoglobin switching. Efforts to understand the transcriptional mechanism(s) behind fetal globin silencing have led to novel strategies to derepress fetal globin expression in the adult, which could alleviate symptoms in hereditary b-globin disorders including sickle cell disease (SCD) and -thalassemia. We identified a novel zinc finger protein, pogo transposable element with zinc finger domain (Pogz), expressed in mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which represses embryonic b-like globin gene expression in mice. Ablation of Pogz expression in adult hematopoietic cells in vivo results in persistence of embryonic b-like globin expression without significantly affecting erythroid development or mouse survival. Elevated embryonic -like globin expression correlates with reduced expression of Bcl11a, a known repressor of embryonic -like globin expression, in Pogz-/- fetal liver cells. Pogz binds to the Bcl11a promoter, and, to erythroid specific intragenic regulatory regions. Importantly, Pogz+/- mice develop normally, but show elevated embryonic b-like globin expression in peripheral blood cells, demonstrating that reducing Pogz levels results in persistence of embryonic b-like globin expression. Finally, knockdown of POGZ in primary human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell derived erythroblasts, reduces BCL11A expression and increases fetal hemoglobin expression. These findings are significant since new therapeutic targets and strategies are needed to treat the increasing global burden of b-globin disorders.
POGZ Is Required for Silencing Mouse Embryonic β-like Hemoglobin and Human Fetal Hemoglobin Expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe discovered a rare missense mutation in NR1H4 (R436H), which encodes the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), associating with lower levels of total cholesterol in the Icelandic population. To explore the effects of R436H we used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate homozygous NR1H4 R436H and NR1H4 knockout human iPSC lines which we differentiated to hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were treated with an FXR agonist for 24 hours and transcript abundance measured by RNA-seq. The global response to FXR activation in NR1H4 R436H cells was very similar to that of wild-type cells showing that it is not a loss-of-function mutation. However, we did observe subtle gene expression differences compatible with an effect on lipids when we compared R436H agonist treated hepatocytes to wild-type agonist treated hepatocytes. Overall design: RNA-seq was performed on wild-type, NR1H4 knockout and NR1H4 R436H iPSC-derived hepatocytes treated with FXR agonist GW4064.
Predicted loss and gain of function mutations in ACO1 are associated with erythropoiesis.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThe polyphenol resveratrol has anti-inflammatory effects in various cells, tissues, animals and human settings of low-grade inflammation. Psoriasis is a disease of both localized and systemic low-grade inflammation. The Sirtuin1 enzyme thought to mediate the effects of resveratrol is present in skin and resveratrol is known to downregulate NF-B; a major contributor in the development of psoriasis. Consequently we investigated whether resveratrol has an effect on an Imiquimod induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice and sought to identify candidate genes, pathways and interleukins mediating the observed effects. The study consisted of three treatment groups: A control group, an Imiquimod group and an Imiquimod+resveratrol group. Psoriasis severity was assessed using elements of the Psoriasis Area Severity Index, actual skin thickness measurements, and histological examination. We performed an RNA microarray from lesional skin and afterwards Ingenuity pathway analysis to identify affected signalling pathways. Our microarray was compared to a previously deposited microarray to determine if gene changes were psoriasis-like, and to a human microarray to determine if findings could be relevant in a human setting. Imiquimod treatment induced a psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Resveratrol significantly diminished the severity of the psoriasis-like skin inflammation. The RNA microarray revealed a psoriasis-like gene expression-profile in the Imiquimod treated group, and highlighted several resveratrol dependent changes in relevant genes, such as increased expression of genes associated with retinoic acid stimulation and reduced expression of genes involved in IL-17 dependent pathways (e.g.IL-17A, IL-17F,IL-23p19 ). Quantitative PCR confirmed a resveratrol dependent decrease in mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-19; both central in developing psoriasis. In conclusion, resveratrol ameliorates psoriasis, and changes in expression of retinoic acid stimulated genes, IL-17 signalling pathways, IL-17A and IL-19 mRNA levels in a beneficial manner suggests it might have a role in the treatment of psoriasis and should be explored further in a human setting.
Resveratrol ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.
Specimen part
View SamplesStudies have shown that vitamin D can enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and change the expression of genes in pancreatic β-cells. Still the mechanisms linking vitamin D and GSIS are unknown.
Vitamin D metabolites influence expression of genes concerning cellular viability and function in insulin producing β-cells (INS1E).
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesWe construced combinations of genetic deletions to infer genetic interactions in genomic expression data.
Prediction of phenotype and gene expression for combinations of mutations.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesObservational studies from low-income countries have shown that the vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) is associated with excess female mortality due to infectious diseases. To investigate possible changes in gene expression after DTP vaccination, we identified a group of nine comparable West African girls, from a biobank of 356 children, who were due to receive DTP booster vaccine at age 18 months. We extracted RNA from blood samples before, and 6 weeks after, vaccination to analyse the coding transcriptome in leukocytes using expression microarrays, and ended up with information from eight girls. The data was further analysed using dedicated array pathway and network software. We aimed to study whether DTP vaccination introduced a systematic alteration in the immune system in girls. We found very few transcripts to alter systematically. Those that did mainly belonged to the interferon (IFN) signalling pathway. We scrutinized this pathway as well as the interleukin pathways. Two out of eight showed a down-regulated IFN pathway and two showed an up-regulated IFN pathway. The two with down-regulated IFN pathway had also down-regulated IL-6 pathway. In the study of networks, two of the girls stood out as not having the inflammatory response as top altered network. In conclusion, the transcriptome changes following DTP booster vaccination were subtle, but it is possible to identify sub groups that deviate from each other, mainly in the IFN response.
Leukocyte transcript alterations in West-African girls following a booster vaccination with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesWe have looked for fusion genes in ovarian carcinomas. We combined previously known genomic aberrations, detected by karyotyping, and gene expression analysis. We found recurrent DPP9 gene expression deregulation with matching translocations. In additon, candidate fusion partner genes from the exon-level expression analysis were ranked according to deviating expression compared to the median of the sample set. The results were collated with data obtained from the RNA-seq analysis.
Involvement of DPP9 in gene fusions in serous ovarian carcinoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesTo compare the transcriptome profiles of the two principal histological variants of malignant germ cell tumor that occur in childhood
Pediatric malignant germ cell tumors show characteristic transcriptome profiles.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesExisting controversy regarding the importance of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in fatty acid (FA) oxidation in skeletal muscle with contraction/exercise may to some extent pertain to redundant AMPK1 signaling. Using a mouse model lacking both AMPK1 and -2 in skeletal muscle specifically (mdKO) we hypothesized that FA utilization would be impaired in skeletal muscle. Calorimetric analysis showed a similar respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of AMPK WT and mdKO mice when fed normal chow, a high fat diet or with prolonged fasting. Though, in vivo treadmill exercise at the same relative intensity induced a higher RER in mdKO mice compared to WT (WT=0.81; mdKO=0.87; p<0.01) indicating a decreased utilization of FA. Ex vivo incubation of soleus muscle revealed that basal and contraction-induced FA oxidation was impaired in mdKO mice, suggesting that the increased RER during in vivo running exercise originated from decreased skeletal muscle FA oxidation. A decreased muscle protein expression of CD36 and FABPpm (by 17-40%) together with abolishment of TBC1D1 Ser237 phosphorylation in mdKO mice, may result in lower FA transport capacity and FA transport protein translocation to sarcolemma, respectively. In summary this study shows that the catalytically active AMPK subunits are required for normal stimulation of FA utilization during exercise and contractions.
AMPKα is critical for enhancing skeletal muscle fatty acid utilization during in vivo exercise in mice.
Specimen part
View Samples