Gene regulation at the maternal-embryonic transition in the pre-implantation mouse embryo is not well understood. We knock down Ccna2 to establish proof-of-concept that antisense morpholino oligonucleotides can be used to target specific genes. We applied this strategy to study Oct4 and discovered that Oct4 is required prior to blastocyst development. Specifically, gene expression is altered as early as the 2-cell stage in Oct4-knockdown embryos.
A novel and critical role for Oct4 as a regulator of the maternal-embryonic transition.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesEndogenous oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are a promising target to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by remyelinating denuded, and therefore vulnerable, axons. Demyelination is the result of a primary insult and secondary injury, leading to conduction blocks and long-term degeneration of the axons, which subsequently can lead to the loss of their neuron. In response to SCI, dormant OPCs can be activated and subsequently start to proliferate and differentiate into mature myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs). Therefore, researchers strive to control OPC responses, and utilize small molecule screening approaches in order to identify mechanisms of OPC activation, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Overall design: DEG analysis of primary OPC and OL populations, 5 biological replicates per population
Primary Spinal OPC Culture System from Adult Zebrafish to Study Oligodendrocyte Differentiation <i>In Vitro</i>.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIt is widely believed that the carcinogenic action of ionizing radiation is due to targeted DNA damage and resulting mutations, but there is also substantial evidence that non-targeted radiation effects alter epithelial phenotype and the stromal microenvironment. Activation of transforming growth factor 1 (TGF) is a non-targeted radiation effect that mediates cell fate decisions following DNA damage and regulates microenvironment composition; it could either suppress or promote cancer. We asked if such non-targeted radiation effects contribute to carcinogenesis by using a novel radiation chimera model. Unirradiated Trp53 null mammary epithelium was transplanted to the mammary stroma, previously divested of endogenous epithelia, of mice previously exposed to a single low (10 -100 cGy) radiation dose. By 300 days, 100% of transplants in irradiated hosts at either 10 or 100 cGy had developed Trp53 null breast carcinomas compared to 54% in unirradiated hosts. Tumor growth rate was also increased by high, but not low, dose host irradiation. In contrast, irradiation of Tgfb1 heterozygote mice prior to transplantation failed to decrease tumor latency, or increase growth rate at any dose. Host irradiation significantly reduced the latency of invasive ductal carcinoma compared to spindle cell carcinoma. However, irradiation of either host genotype significantly increased the frequency of estrogen receptor negative tumors. These data demonstrate two concepts critical to understanding radiation risks. First, non-targeted radiation effects can significantly promote the frequency and alter the features of epithelial cancer. Second, radiation-induced TGF activity is a key mechanism of tumor promotion.
Radiation acts on the microenvironment to affect breast carcinogenesis by distinct mechanisms that decrease cancer latency and affect tumor type.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesDuring embryogenesis, the endothelial and the hematopoietic lineages first appear during gastrulation in the blood island of the yolk sac. We have previously reported that an Ets variant gene 2 (Etv2/ER71) mutant embryo lacks hematopoietic and endothelial lineages, however, the precise roles of Etv2 in yolk sac development remains unclear.
Etv2 is expressed in the yolk sac hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors and regulates Lmo2 gene expression.
Cell line
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Anti-inflammatory properties of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol.
Sex
View SamplesThe development, homeostasis and function of B lymphocytes involve multiple rounds of B cell receptor (BCR)-controlled proliferation and prolonged maintenance. We analyzed the role of transcription factor Zfx, a recently identified regulator of stem cell maintenance, in B cell development and homeostasis. Conditional Zfx deletion in the bone marrow blocked B cell development at the pre-BCR selection checkpoint. Zfx deficiency in peripheral B cells caused impaired generation of the B-1 cell lineage, accelerated B cell turnover, depletion of mature recirculating cells, and delayed T-dependent antibody responses. Zfx-deficient B cells showed normal proximal BCR signaling, but impaired BCR-induced proliferation and survival. This was accompanied by aberrantly enhanced and prolonged integrated stress response, and delayed induction of Cyclin D2 and Bcl-xL proteins. Thus, Zfx restrains the stress response and couples antigen receptor signaling to B cell expansion and maintenance during development and peripheral homeostasis.
Transcription factor Zfx controls BCR-induced proliferation and survival of B lymphocytes.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTumor growth is associated with a profound alteration of myelopoiesis, leading to recruitment of immunosuppressive cells known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Immuno-regulatory activity of both tumor-induced and BM-derived MDSCs (by GM-CSF and IL-6 treatment) was entirely dependent on C/EBP transcription factor (TF), a key component of the emergency myelopoiesis triggered by stress and inflammation. We used miR expression analysis to identify miRs which could drive MDSC recruitment/generation/activity by modulating specific TFs and pathway. In particular, we identified a miR signature of 79 miR differentially expressed between not suppressive CD11b+ cells and CD11b+ isolated from tumor mass and spleen of tumor-bearing mice. Moreover on the same samples we profiled gene expression with Affymetrix microarrays to perform an integrated analysis of mirna and gene expression.
miR-142-3p prevents macrophage differentiation during cancer-induced myelopoiesis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Cell line
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The male germ cell gene regulator CTCFL is functionally different from CTCF and binds CTCF-like consensus sites in a nucleosome composition-dependent manner.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe effect of CTCFL mutation on the transcriptional program in testes
The male germ cell gene regulator CTCFL is functionally different from CTCF and binds CTCF-like consensus sites in a nucleosome composition-dependent manner.
Specimen part
View SamplesEndothelial inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases; however, the role of tumor endothelial inflammation in the growth of experimental tumors and its influence on the prognosis of human cancers is less understood. TNF-, an important mediator of tumor stromal inflammation, is known to target the tumor vasculature. In this study, we demonstrate that B16-F1 melanomas grew more rapidly in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice than in syngeneic mice with germline deletions of both TNF- receptors (KO). This enhanced tumor growth was associated with increased COX2 inflammatory expression in WT tumor endothelium compared to endothelium in KO mice. We purified endothelial cells from WT and KO tumors and characterized dysregulated gene expression, which ultimately formed the basis of a 6-gene Inflammation-Related Endothelial-derived Gene (IREG) signature. This inflammatory signature expressed in WT tumor endothelial cells was trained in human cancer datasets and predicted a poor clinical outcome in breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and glioma. Consistent with this observation, conditioned media from human endothelial cells treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- and interferons) accelerated the growth of human colon and breast tumors in immune-deprived mice as compared with conditioned media from untreated endothelial cells. These findings demonstrate that activation of endothelial inflammatory pathways contributes to tumor growth and progression in diverse human cancers.
Tumor endothelial inflammation predicts clinical outcome in diverse human cancers.
Specimen part
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