Understanding the specific cell populations responsible for propagation of leukemia is an important step for development of effective targeted therapies. Recently, the lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitor (LMPP) has been proposed to be a key propagating population in acute myeloid leukemia (AML; PMID 21251617). We have also shown that LMPPs share many functional and gene expression properties with early thymic progenitors (ETPs; PMID 22344248). This finding is of particular interest as ETP leukemias have recently been described: a distinct and poor prognostic disease entity with a transcriptional profile reminiscent of murine ETPs, showing co-expression of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and myeloid markers (PMID 19147408). Together, this raises the question whether ETPs can act as a leukemia-initiating/propagating cell population; however, relevant disease models to test this hypothesis are currently lacking. Analysis of the genetic landscape of ETP leukemias has revealed frequent coexistence of inactivating mutations of EZH2 and RUNX1 (PMID 22237106). We therefore generated mice with deletions of Ezh2 and Runx1 specifically targeted to early lymphoid progenitors using Rag1Cre (Ezh2fl/flRunx1fl/flRag1Cre+; DKO mice). As anticipated, HSCs lacked significant recombination in DKO mice whereas close to 100% of purified ETPs (Lin-CD4-CD8-CD44+CD25-Kit+Flt3+) showed deletion of Ezh2 and Runx1. Strikingly, despite a 16-fold reduction in thymus cellularity caused by a block in thymocyte maturation at the DN2-DN3 transition, absolute numbers of ETPs within the thymus of DKO mice were markedly expanded (12-fold; p<0.0001). In contrast, Ezh2 or Runx1 deletion alone had no impact on numbers of ETPs. RNA-sequencing of the expanded ETPs in DKO mice revealed upregulation of HSC- and myeloid-associated transcriptional programs, reminiscent of ETP leukaemia e.g. Pbx1 (log2FC=3.0; p<0.0001) and Csf3r (log2FC=1.9; p=0.0038). Single-cell gene expression analysis confirmed co-expression of HSC and myeloid programs with lymphoid genes within individual DKO ETPs. Further, some key regulators of T-cell maturation which are aberrantly expressed in ETP leukemia were also disrupted in DKO ETPs e.g. Tcf7 (log2FC=-9.5; p<0.0001). Gene expression associated with aberrant Ras signalling was also present. However, despite a continued expansion of the ETP population with age, we did not observe leukemia in DKO mice with over 1 year of follow-up. Since ETP leukemias frequently feature activating mutations in genes regulating RAS signaling, we hypothesised that the expanded “pre-leukemic” ETPs in DKO mice would be primed for leukemic transformation by signalling pathway mutation. We therefore crossed DKO mice with a Flt3ITD/+ knock-in mouse line, as internal tandem duplications (ITD) of FLT3 are frequent in ETP leukemias. Ezh2fl/flRunx1fl/flRag1Cre+Flt3ITD/+ (DKOITD) mice showed dramatically reduced survival (median 9.3 weeks) resulting from an aggressive, fully penetrant acute leukemia showing a predominantly myeloid phenotype (e.g. Mac1) but with co-expression of some lymphoid antigens (e.g. intracellular CD3). Crucially, this leukaemia could be propagated in wild-type recipients upon transplantation of the expanded ETPs. DKOITD ETPs were transcriptionally very similar to DKO ETPs, retaining expression of lymphoid alongside HSC- and myeloid-associated genes. Finally, in a lympho-myeloid cell line model (EML cells) we demonstrated that Ezh2 inactivation-induced loss of H3K27me3 is associated with a corresponding increase in H3K27Ac, a transcriptional activating signal that recruits bromodomain proteins. As such, we reasoned that our ETP leukemia model might be sensitive to bromodomain inhibitors such as JQ1. Indeed, we observed high sensitivity of expanded DKOITD ETPs to JQ1, raising the possibility of a new therapeutic approach for ETP leukemias. This novel mouse model of ETP-propagated leukemia, driven by clinically relevant mutations, provides intriguing evidence that leukemias with a predominant myeloid phenotype, but co-expressing lymphoid genes, may initiate within a bona fide early lymphoid progenitor population. Since the functional characteristics of the cell of origin of a leukaemia may direct its progression and response to therapy, these findings could have important implications for future stratification and treatment of both AML and ETP leukemias. Overall design: mRNA-sequencing of mouse Mac1+ bone marrow cells from three genotypes
Ezh2 and Runx1 Mutations Collaborate to Initiate Lympho-Myeloid Leukemia in Early Thymic Progenitors.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesUnderstanding the specific cell populations responsible for propagation of leukemia is an important step for development of effective targeted therapies. Recently, the lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitor (LMPP) has been proposed to be a key propagating population in acute myeloid leukemia (AML; PMID 21251617). We have also shown that LMPPs share many functional and gene expression properties with early thymic progenitors (ETPs; PMID 22344248). This finding is of particular interest as ETP leukemias have recently been described: a distinct and poor prognostic disease entity with a transcriptional profile reminiscent of murine ETPs, showing co-expression of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and myeloid markers (PMID 19147408). Together, this raises the question whether ETPs can act as a leukemia-initiating/propagating cell population; however, relevant disease models to test this hypothesis are currently lacking. Analysis of the genetic landscape of ETP leukemias has revealed frequent coexistence of inactivating mutations of EZH2 and RUNX1 (PMID 22237106). We therefore generated mice with deletions of Ezh2 and Runx1 specifically targeted to early lymphoid progenitors using Rag1Cre (Ezh2fl/flRunx1fl/flRag1Cre+; DKO mice). As anticipated, HSCs lacked significant recombination in DKO mice whereas close to 100% of purified ETPs (Lin-CD4-CD8-CD44+CD25-Kit+Flt3+) showed deletion of Ezh2 and Runx1. Strikingly, despite a 16-fold reduction in thymus cellularity caused by a block in thymocyte maturation at the DN2-DN3 transition, absolute numbers of ETPs within the thymus of DKO mice were markedly expanded (12-fold; p<0.0001). In contrast, Ezh2 or Runx1 deletion alone had no impact on numbers of ETPs. RNA-sequencing of the expanded ETPs in DKO mice revealed upregulation of HSC- and myeloid-associated transcriptional programs, reminiscent of ETP leukaemia e.g. Pbx1 (log2FC=3.0; p<0.0001) and Csf3r (log2FC=1.9; p=0.0038). Single-cell gene expression analysis confirmed co-expression of HSC and myeloid programs with lymphoid genes within individual DKO ETPs. Further, some key regulators of T-cell maturation which are aberrantly expressed in ETP leukemia were also disrupted in DKO ETPs e.g. Tcf7 (log2FC=-9.5; p<0.0001). Gene expression associated with aberrant Ras signalling was also present. However, despite a continued expansion of the ETP population with age, we did not observe leukemia in DKO mice with over 1 year of follow-up. Since ETP leukemias frequently feature activating mutations in genes regulating RAS signaling, we hypothesised that the expanded “pre-leukemic” ETPs in DKO mice would be primed for leukemic transformation by signalling pathway mutation. We therefore crossed DKO mice with a Flt3ITD/+ knock-in mouse line, as internal tandem duplications (ITD) of FLT3 are frequent in ETP leukemias. Ezh2fl/flRunx1fl/flRag1Cre+Flt3ITD/+ (DKOITD) mice showed dramatically reduced survival (median 9.3 weeks) resulting from an aggressive, fully penetrant acute leukemia showing a predominantly myeloid phenotype (e.g. Mac1) but with co-expression of some lymphoid antigens (e.g. intracellular CD3). Crucially, this leukaemia could be propagated in wild-type recipients upon transplantation of the expanded ETPs. DKOITD ETPs were transcriptionally very similar to DKO ETPs, retaining expression of lymphoid alongside HSC- and myeloid-associated genes. Finally, in a lympho-myeloid cell line model (EML cells) we demonstrated that Ezh2 inactivation-induced loss of H3K27me3 is associated with a corresponding increase in H3K27Ac, a transcriptional activating signal that recruits bromodomain proteins. As such, we reasoned that our ETP leukemia model might be sensitive to bromodomain inhibitors such as JQ1. Indeed, we observed high sensitivity of expanded DKOITD ETPs to JQ1, raising the possibility of a new therapeutic approach for ETP leukemias. This novel mouse model of ETP-propagated leukemia, driven by clinically relevant mutations, provides intriguing evidence that leukemias with a predominant myeloid phenotype, but co-expressing lymphoid genes, may initiate within a bona fide early lymphoid progenitor population. Since the functional characteristics of the cell of origin of a leukaemia may direct its progression and response to therapy, these findings could have important implications for future stratification and treatment of both AML and ETP leukemias. Overall design: mRNA-sequencing of mouse early thymic precursors from three genotypes
Ezh2 and Runx1 Mutations Collaborate to Initiate Lympho-Myeloid Leukemia in Early Thymic Progenitors.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesGene expression analysis of purified endothelial cells (Ecs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mononuclear cells (MNCs) from wild-type and Flt3-ITD knock-in mice. Overall design: Differentially expressed genes analysis of haematopoietic and niche cell populations from Flt3-ITD mice
Niche-mediated depletion of the normal hematopoietic stem cell reservoir by Flt3-ITD-induced myeloproliferation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression in Ws-0 lec1 (LEAFY COTYLEDON1) mutant Arabidopsis thaliana. Developmental stages studied includes 24-Hr post-fertilization, globular stage, cotyledon stage, mature green stage, post-mature green stage, and seedlings.
LEC1 sequentially regulates the transcription of genes involved in diverse developmental processes during seed development.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesExamined the expression effects of supplementing Drosophila food on heart and nephrocyte complexes
Diet-Induced Podocyte Dysfunction in Drosophila and Mammals.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes essential components of the respiratory chain and loss of mtDNA leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is an essential component of mtDNA replication and a regulator of mitochondrial copy number in cells. Studies have shown that TFAM knockdown leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and respiratory chain deficiencies. ATP synthase is Complex V of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is driven by a proton gradient between the intermembrane space and the mitochondrial matrix and generates the majority of cellular ATP. The knockdown of coupling factor 6 (Cf6), one of the components of the proton channel F0, causes dysfunction in the complex, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and respiratory chain deficiencies. Using gene expression analysis, we aimed to investigate the effects of mtDNA dysfunction in the CNS at the molecular level.
Mitochondrial retrograde signaling regulates neuronal function.
Specimen part
View SamplesChronic high sugar feeding induces obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in flies and mammals. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying this response, we profiled gene expression in chronically high sugar fed, wandering (post-prandial) third instar wild type larvae (L3). These data were compared to control-fed larvae as well as those (mid-L3) actively feeding for twelve hours on both diets.
A high-sugar diet produces obesity and insulin resistance in wild-type Drosophila.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesExpression profiles of wild type migratory border cells (WTBC), non-migrating slbo mutant border cells (slboBC) and non-migrating follicle cells (FC)
Systematic analysis of the transcriptional switch inducing migration of border cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesInfection of the human host by Streptococcus pneumoniae begins with colonization of the nasopharynx, which is mediated by adherence of bacteria to respiratory epithelium. Several studies have indicated an important role for the pneumococcal capsule in this process. Here, we used microarrays to characterize the in vitro transcriptional response of human nasopharyngeal epithelial Detroit 562 cells to adherence of serotype 2-encapsulated strain D39, serotype 19F-encapsulated strain G54, serotype 4-encapsulated strain TIGR4, and their nonencapsulated derivatives (cps). In total, 322 genes were found to be upregulated in response to adherent pneumococci. Twenty-two genes were commonly induced, including those encoding several cytokines (e.g., IL-1, IL-6), chemokines (e.g., IL-8, CXCL1/2), and transcriptional regulators (e.g., FOS), consistent with an innate immune response mediated by Toll-like receptor signaling. Interestingly, 85% of genes was induced specifically by one or more encapsulated strains, suggestive of a capsule-dependent response. Importantly, purified capsular polysaccharides alone had no effect. Over a third of these loci encoded products predicted to be involved in transcriptional regulation and signal transduction, in particular MAPK signaling pathways. Real-time PCR of a subset of ten genes confirmed microarray data and showed a time-dependent upregulation of especially innate immunity genes. Downregulation of epithelial genes was most pronounced upon adherent D39cps, as 68% of the 161 genes identified was only repressed using this nonencapsulated strain. In conclusion, we identified a subset of host genes specifically induced by encapsulated strains during in vitro adherence, and have demonstrated the complexity of interactions occurring during the initial stages of pneumococcal infection.
Analysis of the in vitro transcriptional response of human pharyngeal epithelial cells to adherent Streptococcus pneumoniae: evidence for a distinct response to encapsulated strains.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Strain-dependent host transcriptional responses to Toxoplasma infection are largely conserved in mammalian and avian hosts.
Cell line, Time
View Samples