Immortalized, amelanotic melanocytes isolted from skin of Balb/c express enzymatically-inactive tyrosinase due to a homozygous point mutation (TGT->TCT) in tyrosinase gene, resulting in a lack of melanin . To serve as a control cell line, pigmentation was restored in these cells by correcting the point mutation using an RNA-DNA oligonucleotide (kingly gift from Dr. Alexeev Y. Vitali).
Melanocyte-secreted fibromodulin promotes an angiogenic microenvironment.
Specimen part
View SamplesDisrupted skin barrier due to altered keratinocyte differentiation is common in pathologic conditions such as atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis and psoriasis. However, the molecular cascades governing keratinocyte terminal differentiation are still poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated that a dominant mutation in ZNF750 leads to a clinical phenotype that reminiscent of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. We defined ZNF750 as a nuclear effector that is strongly activated in and essential for keratinocyte terminal differentiation. ZNF750 knockdown in HaCaT keratinocytes markedly reduced the expression of epidermal late differentiation markers, including gene subsets of epidermal differentiation complex and skin barrier formation such as FLG, LOR, SPINK5, ALOX12B and DSG1, known to be mutated in various human skin diseases. Furthermore, ZNF750 over-expression in undifferentiated cells induced terminal differentiation genes. Thus, ZNF750 is a regulator of keratinocyte terminal differentiation, and with its downstream targets can serve in future elucidation of therapeutics for common disease of skin barrier
ZNF750 is expressed in differentiated keratinocytes and regulates epidermal late differentiation genes.
Specimen part
View SamplesAn understanding of the mechanisms regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) formation is key for developing of new tools to treat obesity and its related diseases. Here, we identify DEPTOR as a positive regulator of adipogenesis whose expression is associated with obesity. In a polygenic mouse model of obesity/leanness, Deptor is part of the Fob3a QTL linked to obesity and we fine that Deptor is the highest priority candidate gene regulating WAT accumulation in this model. Using a doxycycline-inducible mouse model for Deptor overexpression, we confirmed that Deptor promotes WAT expansion in vivo. DEPTOR expression is elevated in WAT of obese humans and strongly correlates with the degree of obesity. We show that DEPTOR is induced during adipogenesis and that its overexpression cell-autonomously promotes, while its suppression blocks, adipogenesis. DEPTOR positively regulates adipogenesis by promoting the activity of the pro-adipogenic factors Akt/PKB and PPAR-gamma. These results establish DEPTOR as a physiological regulator of adipogenesis and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling WAT formation.
DEPTOR cell-autonomously promotes adipogenesis, and its expression is associated with obesity.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesOb/ob mice were given 0, 12.5 or 25 ng/hr leptin through an osmotic pump. After 12 days, livers RNA was prepared and illumina microarrays were done. We tested whether leptin can ameliorate diabetes independent of weight loss by defining the lowest dose at which leptin treatment of ob/ob mice reduces plasma [glucose] and [insulin]. We found that a leptin dose of 12.5 ng/hour significantly lowers blood glucose and that 25 ng/hour of leptin normalizes plasma glucose and insulin without significantly reducing body weight, thus establishing that leptin exerts its most potent effects on glucose metabolism. To find possible mediators of this effect, we profiled liver mRNA using microarrays and identified IGF Binding Protein 2 as being regulated by leptin with a similarly high potency. Over-expression of IGFBP2 by an adenovirus reversed diabetes in insulin resistant ob/ob, Ay/a and diet-induced obese mice (DIO), as well as insulin deficient streptozotocin-treated mice. Hyperinsulinemic clamp studies showed a three-fold improvement in hepatic insulin sensitivity following IGFBP2 treatment in ob/ob mice. These results show that IGFBP2 can regulate glucose metabolism, a finding with potential implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes.
Antidiabetic effects of IGFBP2, a leptin-regulated gene.
Specimen part, Time
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to identify genes which are differentiatlly expresesd upon induced inactivation of Rfx6 in beta cell in adult mice Overall design: Rfx6fl/fl; Ins1-CreERT2 (mut) and Rfx6fl/fl (ctrl) 8 weeks old mice were injected subcutaneously with tamoxifen daily during 3 days. Pancreatic islets were isolated 5 days after the first injection and RNA purified.
Rfx6 maintains the functional identity of adult pancreatic β cells.
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View SamplesWe report that phosphorylated ribosomes can be immunoprecipitated from mouse brain homogenates, resulting in enrichment of transcripts expressed in activated neurons. Overall design: Mice were either injected with a concentrated salt solution or vehicle, hypothalami dissected, and phosphorylated ribosomes immunoprecipitated. RNA was sequenced from the input and IP for each condition (4 samples total).
Molecular profiling of activated neurons by phosphorylated ribosome capture.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAnalysis of expression profiles in stage II colon cancer according to the APC gene status
Expression Profiles in Stage II Colon Cancer According to APC Gene Status.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe 16p11.2 deletion and duplication syndromes have been associated with developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders, and a reciprocal effect on body mass index. Here we explored these links with new engineered mouse models carrying a deletion (Del/+) and duplication (Dup/+) of the whole 16p11.2 homologous Sult1a1-Spn region. On a pure genetic background, compared to wild-types, Del/+ mice carrying the deletion showed weight and adipogenesis deficits, hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, and recognition memory deficits, whereas Dup/+ mice showed the opposite phenotypes and Del/Dup individuals displayed no changes. Alterations in social interaction were also observed in Del/+ and Dup/+ animals on a mixed genetic background.
Reciprocal Effects on Neurocognitive and Metabolic Phenotypes in Mouse Models of 16p11.2 Deletion and Duplication Syndromes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesTo describe normal cardiac and brain development during late first and early second trimester in human fetuses using microarray and pathways analysis and the creation of a corresponding normal database. RNA from recovered tissues was used for transcriptome analysis with Affymetrix 1.0 ST microarray chip. From the amassed data we investigated differences in cardiac and brain development within the 10-18 GA period dividing the sample by GA in three groups: 10-12 (H1), 13-15(H2) and 16-18(H3) weeks. A fold change of 2 or above adjusted for a false discovery rate of 5% was used as initial cut-off to determine differential gene expression for individual genes. Test for enrichment to identify functional groups were carried out using the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Array analysis correctly identified the cardiac specific genes, and transcripts reported to be differentially expressed were confirmed by qRT-PCR.
Metabolic gene profile in early human fetal heart development.
Specimen part
View SamplesPaneth cells recide in the intestinal crypt bottom and are part of the innate immunity and of the intestinal stem cell niche.
mTORC1 in the Paneth cell niche couples intestinal stem-cell function to calorie intake.
Age, Specimen part
View Samples