Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) patients develop benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). These incurable peripheral nerve tumors result from loss of NF1 tumor suppressor gene function, causing hyperactive Ras signaling. Activated Ras controls numerous downstream effectors, but specific pathways mediating effects of hyperactive Ras in NF1 tumors are unknown. Cross-species transcriptome analyses of mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNSTs identified global negative feedback of genes that regulate Ras-Raf- MEK- extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling in both species. Nonetheless, activation of ERK was sustained in mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNST. PD0325901, a highly selective pharmacological inhibitor of MEK, was used to test whether sustained Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling contributes to neurofibroma growth in the Nf1fl/fl;Dhh-cre mouse model or in NF1 patient MPNST cell xenografts. PD0325901 treatment reduced aberrantly proliferating cells in neurofibroma and MPNST, prolonged survival of mice implanted with human MPNST cells, and shrank neurofibromas in >80% of mice tested. PD0325901 also caused effects on tumor vasculature. Our data demonstrate that deregulated Ras/ERK signaling is critical for the growth of NF1 peripheral nerve tumors and provide strong rationale for testing MEK inhibitors in NF1 clinical trials.
MEK inhibition exhibits efficacy in human and mouse neurofibromatosis tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesEvolutionary conserved biological rhythms play a fundamental role in the physiology and behavior of all light-sensitive organisms. Generation of rhythmic expression of clock-controlled genes is orchestrated by a molecular circadian clock constitutes by interconnected negative feedback loops of transcription factors. In this study, we want to characterize gene which also present a rhythmic translation through the characterization of genes with a rhythmic polysomal/total RNA ratio.
The circadian clock coordinates ribosome biogenesis.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Time
View SamplesNotch3 is a transmembrane receptor which is critically important for the structure and myogenic response of distal arteries, particularly cerebral arteries. After activation of the receptor, the intracellular domain translocates in the nucleus to activate target genes transcription.
Transcriptome analysis for Notch3 target genes identifies Grip2 as a novel regulator of myogenic response in the cerebrovasculature.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptome analysis comparing naive, protective and non-protective spleen memory CD8 T lymphocytes were conducted to identify key functions associated with memory CD8-mediated immune protection. Memory CD8 T cells generated in response to influenza or vaccinia infection (Flu-memory and VV-memory) were compared to inflammatory memory cells (TIM) that were generated by peptide in inflammatory context. Gene expression analysis was performed on quiescent and re-stimulated CD8 T cells.
Immune signatures of protective spleen memory CD8 T cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to identify the molecular characteristics and putative markers distinguishing IL-10eGFP+CD138hi and IL-10eGFP-CD138hi plasmocytes. To this end, IL-10eGFP B-green mice were challenged intravenously with Salmonella typhimurium (strain SL7207, 10e7 CFU), and IL-10eGFP+CD138hi as well as IL-10eGFP-CD138hi plasmocytes were isolated from the spleen on the next day. For this, single cell suspensions were prepared, cells were treated with Fc block (10 g/ml, anti-CD16/CD32, clone 2.4G2), and then stained with an antibody against CD138 conjugated to PE (1/400; from BD Pharmingen) followed by incubation with anti-PE microbeads (Miltenyi Biotech). CD138+ cells were then enriched on Automacs (Miltenyi Biotech) using the program possel_d2. Cells were then stained with anti-CD19-PerCP, anti-CD138-PE, and antibodies against CD11b, CD11c, and TCR conjugated to APC as a dump channel to exclude possible contaminants. DAPI was added to exclude dead cells. Live IL-10eGFP+CD138hi and IL-10eGFP-CD138hi cells were subsequently isolated on a cell sorter. The purity of the samples was always above 98%. This led to the identification of LAG-3 as a cell surface receptor specifically expressed on IL-10eGFP+CD138hi cells but not on IL-10eGFP-CD138hi cells.
LAG-3 Inhibitory Receptor Expression Identifies Immunosuppressive Natural Regulatory Plasma Cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesAffymetrix Human Gene 1.1 ST Array profiling of 285 primary medulloblastoma samples.
Subgroup-specific structural variation across 1,000 medulloblastoma genomes.
Sex, Age
View Samples