Long 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 SamplesMajor causes of lipid accumulation in liver are increased import, synthesis or decreased catabolism of fatty acids. The latter is caused by dysfunction of cellular organelle controlling energy homeostasis, i.e. mitochondria. However, peroxisomes appear to be an important organelle in lipid metabolism of hepatocytes, but little is known about their role in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To investigate the role of peroxisomes next to mitochondria in excessive hepatic lipid accumulation we used the leptin resistant db/db mice on C57BLKS background, a mouse model that develops hyperphagia induced diabetes with obesity and NAFLD.
Peroxisomes compensate hepatic lipid overflow in mice with fatty liver.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesChemokines and adhesion molecules upregulated in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) during tissue inflammation are believed to enhance dendritic cell (DC) migration to draining lymph nodes (dLNs), but the in vivo control of this process is not well understood. By performing transcriptional profiling of LECs isolated from murine skin, we found that inflammation induced by a contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response upregulated the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and inflammatory chemokines in LECs. Furthermore, lymphatic lineage markers like Prox-1, VEGFR3 and LYVE-1 were significantly downregulated during CHS. By contrast, skin inflammation induced by Complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA) induced a different pattern of chemokine and lymphatic marker gene expression and almost no ICAM-1 up-regulation in LECs. In FITC painting experiments, DC migration to dLNs was more strongly increased in CFA- as compared to CHS-induced inflammation. Interestingly, DC migration did not correlate with the induction of CCL21 and ICAM-1 in LECs. However, the requirement for CCR7 signaling became further pronounced during inflammation, whereas CCR7-independent signals only had a minor role in enhancing DC migration. Collectively, these findings indicate that inflammation-induced DC migration is stimulus-dependent and only moderately enhanced by LEC-induced genes other than CCL21.
Tissue inflammation modulates gene expression of lymphatic endothelial cells and dendritic cell migration in a stimulus-dependent manner.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesTriggering of B cell receptors (BCR) induces a massive synthesis of NFATc1 in splenic B cells. By inactivating the Nfatc1 gene and re-expressing NFATc1 we show that NFATc1 levels are critical for the survival of splenic B cells upon BCR stimulation. NFATc1 ablation led to decreased BCR-induced Ca++ flux and proliferation of splenic B cells, increased apoptosis and suppressed germinal centre formation and immunoglobulin class switch by T cell-independent antigens. By controlling IL-10 synthesis in B cells, NFATc1 supported the proliferation and IL-2 synthesis of T cells in vitro and appeared to contribute to the mild clinical course of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in mice bearing NFATc1-/- B cells. These data indicate NFATc1 as a key factor controlling B cell function.
NFATc1 affects mouse splenic B cell function by controlling the calcineurin--NFAT signaling network.
Specimen part
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