Autophagy selectively degrades aggregation-prone misfolded proteins caused by defective cellular proteostasis. However, the complexity of autophagy may prevent the full appreciation of how its modulation could be used as a therapeutic strategy in disease management. Here we define a molecular pathway through which recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra, anakinra) affects cellular proteostasis independently from the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1). Anakinra promoted H2O2-driven autophagy through a xenobiotic sensing pathway involving the aryl hydrocarbon receptor that, activated through the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1-kynurenine pathway, transcriptionally activates NADPH Oxidase 4 independent of the IL-1R1. By coupling the mitochondrial redox balance to autophagy, anakinra improved the dysregulated proteostasis network in murine and human cystic fibrosis. We anticipate that anakinra may represent a therapeutic option in addition to its IL-1R1 dependent anti-inflammatory properties by acting at the intersection of mitochondrial oxidative stress and autophagy with the capacity to restore conditions in which defective proteostasis leads to human disease. Overall design: mRNA profiles of alveolar macrophages purified from C57BL/6 and Il1r1-/- mice treated or not with Anakinra
Anakinra restores cellular proteostasis by coupling mitochondrial redox balance to autophagy.
Specimen part, Genotype, Subject
View SamplesWe have identified loss of deiminated MA-Brent-1 (an RNA and export binding protein) in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in multiple sclerosis and in glaucoma eyes compared to normal controls. Deimination refers to posttranslational modification of protein bound arginine (not free arginine) in citrulline. Our preliminary studies suggest binding of different repertoire of RNA by non-deiminated and deiminated MA-Brent-1. In vitro, in neurites of cultured RGCs and hippocampal neurons, the select mRNA translation is enhanced by addition of deiminated but not non-deiminated MA-Brent-1. These observations suggest that lack of deiminated MA-Brent-1 has consequences for protein synthesis, remodeling and plasticity of RGCs/neurons. Identification of RNA species bound by deiminated and non-deiminated MA-Brent-1 will enable us there further verification and determining the role that deimination plays in biological function of MA-Brent-1 in multiple sclerosis and glaucoma. To summarize identification of RNA species bound by deiminated and non deiminated MA-Brent-1 will enable us to gain further insight into role of deimination in the overall disease process.
The role of deimination in ATP5b mRNA transport in a transgenic mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe generated three kinds of genetically identical mouse reprogrammed cells: induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), nuclear transfer embryonic stem cells (ntESCs) and iPSC-nt-ESCs that are established after successively reprogramming of iPSCs by nuclear transfer (NT). NtESCs show better developmental potential than iPSCs, whereas iPSC-nt-ESCs display worse developmental potential than iPSCs.
Different developmental potential of pluripotent stem cells generated by different reprogramming strategies.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesMicroarray analysis was performed on BWF1 mice spleenocyte cells in control and pCONS treated mice.
Distinct gene signature revealed in white blood cells, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in (NZBx NZW) F1 lupus mice after tolerization with anti-DNA Ig peptide.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate diverse biological pathways. Unlike protein coding genes, where methods to comprehensibly study their functional roles in cellular systems are available, techniques to systematically investigate lncRNAs have largely remained unexplored. Here, we report a technology for combined Knockdown and Localization Analysis of Non-coding RNAs (c-KLAN) that merges phenotypic characterization and localization approaches to study lncRNAs. Using a library of endoribonuclease prepared short interfering RNAs (esiRNAs) coupled with a pipeline for synthesizing labeled riboprobes for RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we demonstrate the utility of c-KLAN by identifying a novel transcript Panct1 (Pluripotency associated non-coding transcript 1) that regulates embryonic stem cell identity. We postulate that c-KLAN should be generally useful in the discovery of lncRNAs implicated in various biological processes.
Combined RNAi and localization for functionally dissecting long noncoding RNAs.
Specimen part
View SamplesActivated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling appears to be an obligate event in the development of cancer. The highly related members of the mammalian FoxO transcription factor family, FoxO1, FoxO3, and FoxO4, represent one of several effector arms of PI3K-AKT signaling, prompting genetic analysis of the role of FoxOs in the neoplastic phenotypes linked to PI3K-AKT activation. While germline or somatic deletion of up to five FoxO alleles produced remarkably modest neoplastic phenotypes, broad somatic deletion of all FoxOs engendered a progressive cancer-prone condition characterized by thymic lymphomas and hemangiomas, demonstrating that the mammalian FoxOs are indeed bona fide tumor suppressors. Transcriptome and promoter analyses of differentially affected endothelium identified direct FoxO targets and revealed that FoxO regulation of these targets in vivo is highly context-specific, even in the same cell type. Functional studies validated Sprouty2 and PBX1, among others, as FoxO-regulated mediators of endothelial cell morphogenesis and vascular homeostasis.
FoxOs are lineage-restricted redundant tumor suppressors and regulate endothelial cell homeostasis.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe present a robust serum-free system for the rapid and efficient reprogramming of mouse somatic cells by Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4. The elimination of fetal bovine serum and oncogene c-Myc allowed reprogramming cells to be detected as early as Day 2 and reached greater than 10% of the population at Day 7 post retroviral transduction. The resulting iPS colonies were isolated with high efficiency to establish pluripotent cell lines. Based on this method, we further developed iPS-SF1 as a dedicated reprogramming medium for chemical screening and mechanistic investigations.
Towards an optimized culture medium for the generation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesFoxOs cooperatively regulate diverse pathways governing neural stem cell homeostasis
FoxOs cooperatively regulate diverse pathways governing neural stem cell homeostasis.
Cell line
View SamplesDiet-induced obesity (DIO) is rapidly becoming a global health problem, particularly as Westernization of emerging nations continues. Currently, one third of adult Americans are considered obese and, if current trends continue, >90% of US citizens are predicted to be affected by 2050. However, efforts to fight this epidemic have not yet produced sound solutions for prevention or treatment. Our studies reveal a balanced and chronobiological relationship between food consumption, daily variation in gut microbial evenness and function, basomedial hypothalamic circadian clock (CC) gene expression, and key hepatic metabolic regulatory networks , including CC and nuclear receptors (NR), that is are essential for metabolic homeostasis. Western diets high in saturated fats dramatically alter diurnal variation in microbial composition and function, which in turn lead to uncoupling of the hepatic CC and NR networks from central CC control in ways that offset the timing and types of regulatory factors directing metabolic function. These signals include microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that can directly regulate or disrupt metabolic networks of the hepatocyte. Our study therefore provides insights into the complex and dynamic relationships between diet, gut microbes, and the host that are critical for maintenance of health. Perturbations of this constellation of processes, in this case by diet-induced dysbiosis and its metabolomic signaling, can potentially promote metabolic imbalances and disease. This knowledge opens up many possibilities for novel therapeutic and interventional strategies to treat and prevent DIO, ranging from the manipulation of gut microbial function to pharmacological targeting of host pathways to restore metabolic balance.
Effects of diurnal variation of gut microbes and high-fat feeding on host circadian clock function and metabolism.
Specimen part
View SamplesGlioblastoma (GBM) is a highly lethal brain tumor presenting as one of two subtypes with distinct clinical histories and molecular profiles. The primary GBM subtype presents acutely as high-grade disease that typically harbors EGFR, PTEN and Ink4a/Arf mutations, and the secondary GBM subtype evolves from the slow progression of low-grade disease that classically possesses PDGF and p53 events1. Here, we show that concomitant CNS-specific deletion of p53 and Pten in the mouse CNS generates a penetrant acute-onset high-grade malignant glioma phenotype with striking clinical, pathological and molecular resemblance to primary GBM in humans. This genetic observation prompted p53 and PTEN mutational analysis in human primary GBM, demonstrating unexpectedly frequent inactivating mutations of p53 as well the expected PTEN mutations. Integrated transcriptomic profling, in silico promoter analysis and functional studies of murine neural stem cells (NSCs) established that dual, but not singular, inactivation of p53 and Pten promotes an undifferentiated state with high renewal potential and drives elevated c-Myc levels and its associated signature. Functional studies validated increased c-Myc activity as a potent contributor to the impaired differentiation and enhanced renewal of p53-Pten null NSCs as well as tumor neurospheres (TNSs) derived from this model. c-Myc also serves to maintain robust tumorigenic potential of p53-Pten null TNSs. These murine modeling studies, together with confirmatory transcriptomic/promoter studies in human primary GBM, validate a pathogenetic role of a common tumor suppressor mutation profile in human primary GBM and establish c-Myc as a key target for cooperative actions of p53 and Pten in the regulation of normal and malignant stem/progenitor cell differentiation, self-renewal and tumorigenic potential.
p53 and Pten control neural and glioma stem/progenitor cell renewal and differentiation.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples