The CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (CEBPs) are transcription factors involved in hematopoietic cell development and induction of several inflammatory mediators. Here, we generated CEBP-beta (CEBPB) and CEBP-epsilon (CEBPE) double-knockout (bbee) mice and compared their phenotypes to those of single-deficient (bbEE and BBee) and wild-type (BBEE) mice.
In vivo deficiency of both C/EBPβ and C/EBPε results in highly defective myeloid differentiation and lack of cytokine response.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesBRCA1, a well-known breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene with multiple interacting partners, is predicted to have diverse biological functions. However, to date its only well-established role is in the repair of damaged DNA and cell cycle regulation. In this regard, the etiopathological study of low penetrant variants of BRCA1 provides an opportunity to uncover its other physiologically important functions. Using this rationale, we studied the R1699Q variant of BRCA1, a potentially moderate risk variant, and found that it does not impair DNA damage repair but abrogates the repression of miR-155, a bona fide oncomir. We further show that in the absence of functional BRCA1, miR-155 is up-regulated in BRCA1-deficient mouse mammary epithelial cells, human and mouse BRCA1-deficienct breast tumor cell lines as well as tumors. Mechanistically, we found that BRCA1 represses miR-155 expression via its association with HDAC2, which deacetylates H2A and H3 on the miR-155 promoter. Finally, we show that over-expression of miR-155 accelerates whereas the knockdown of miR-155 attenuates the growth of tumor cell lines in vivo. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a new mode of tumor suppression by BRCA1 and reveal miR-155 as a potential therapeutic target for BRCA1-deficient tumors.
Tumor suppressor BRCA1 epigenetically controls oncogenic microRNA-155.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe examined the functional significance of the R1699Q variant of human BRCA1 gene using a mouse ES cell-based assay.
Tumor suppressor BRCA1 epigenetically controls oncogenic microRNA-155.
Specimen part
View SamplesHypertrophic scar (HTS) formation is characterized by exuberant fibroproliferation for reasons that remain poorly understood1. One important but often overlooked component of wound repair is mechanical force, which regulates reciprocal cell-matrix interactions through focal adhesion components including focal adhesion kinase (FAK)1,2. Here we report that FAK is activated following cutaneous injury and that this activation is potentiated by mechanical loading. Transgenic mice lacking fibroblast-specific FAK exhibit significantly less fibrosis in a preclinical model of HTS formation. Inflammatory pathways involving monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a chemokine highly implicated in human skin fibrosis3, are triggered following FAK activation, mechanistically linking physical force to fibrosis. Further, small molecule inhibition of FAK effectively abrogates fibroproliferative mechanisms in human cells and significantly reduces scar formation in vivo. Collectively, these findings establish a molecular basis for HTS formation based on the mechanical activation of fibroblast-specific FAK and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeted mechanomodulatory strategies.
Focal adhesion kinase links mechanical force to skin fibrosis via inflammatory signaling.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesPofut1 is an essential gene that glycosylates proteins containing EGF-like repeats, including Notch Receptors (NotchRs). Work in mice and in Drosophila has shown that O-fucosylation by Pofut1 is required for NotchR ligands to bind to and activate NotchRs. As such, Pofut1 deletion in skeletal myofibers allows for an analysis of potential functions and molecular changes of Pofut1 in skeletal muscle that derive from its expression in skeletal myofibers. In this study we compared gene expression profiles between quadriceps muscles in mice where Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (Pofut1) was deleted specifically in skeletal myofibers via use of a human skeletal alpha actin Cre transgene (Scre) and a loxP flanked Pofut1 gene (SCreFF) and mice which bore the only the Scre transgene but did not have floxed Pofut1 alleles (SCre++).
Deletion of <i>Pofut1</i> in Mouse Skeletal Myofibers Induces Muscle Aging-Related Phenotypes in <i>cis</i> and in <i>trans</i>.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesRetinoid X receptor (RXR)-gamma is a nuclear receptor-type transcription factor expressed mostly in the skeletal muscle, and regulated by nutritional conditions. Previously, we established transgenic mice overexpressing RXR-gamma in the skeletal muscle (RXR-gamma mice), which showed lower blood glucose than the control mice. We used microarrays to investigate their glucose metabolism gene expression change.
Increased systemic glucose tolerance with increased muscle glucose uptake in transgenic mice overexpressing RXRγ in skeletal muscle.
Sex, Age
View Samples