Here, we show that functional loss of a single gene is sufficient to confer constitutive milk protein production and protection against mammary tumor formation. Caveolin-3 (Cav-3), a muscle-specific caveolin-related gene, is highly expressed in striated and smooth muscle cells. We demonstrate that Cav-3 is also expressed in myoepithelial cells within the mammary gland. To determine if genetic ablation of Cav-3 expression affects adult mammary gland development, we next studied the phenotype(s) of Cav-3 (-/-) null mice. Interestingly, detailed analysis of Cav-3 (-/-) virgin mammary glands shows dramatic increases in ductal thickness, side-branching, and the development of extensive lobulo-alveolar hyperplasia, akin to the changes normally observed during pregnancy and lactation. Analysis by genome-wide expression profiling reveals the upregulation of gene transcripts associated with pregnancy/lactation, mammary stem cells, and human breast cancers, consistent with a constitutive lactogenic phenotype. The expression levels of three key transcriptional regulators of lactation, namely Elf5, Stat5a, and c-Myc are also significantly elevated. Experiments with pregnant mice directly show that Cav-3 (-/-) mice undergo precocious lactation. Finally, using orthotopic implantation of a transformed mammary cell line (known as Met-1), we demonstrate that virgin Cav-3 (-/-) mice are dramatically protected against mammary tumor formation. Interestingly, Cav-3 (+/-) mice also show similar protection, indicating that even reductions in Cav-3 levels are sufficient to render these mice resistant to tumorigenesis. Thus, Cav-3 (-/-) mice are a novel preclinical model to study the protective effects of a constitutive lactogenic microenviroment on mammary tumor onset and progression. Our current studies have broad implications for using the lactogenic micro-environment as a paradigm to discover new therapies for the prevention and/or treatment of human breast cancers. Most importantly, a lactation-based therapeutic strategy would provide a more natural and nontoxic approach to the development of novel anti-cancer therapies.
Loss of caveolin-3 induces a lactogenic microenvironment that is protective against mammary tumor formation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesInflammatory mediators play a role in the pathogenesis/progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to identify diagnostic/prognostic markers and gene expression profiles of CHF vs control.
Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic heart failure patients.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe expression of a very large number of genes changes as male germ cells pass through differentiation into spermatids and then sperm. Much of this transcriptional programme requires the activity of the meiotic arrest genes.
The RNA export factor, Nxt1, is required for tissue specific transcriptional regulation.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Extrinsic Phagocyte-Dependent STING Signaling Dictates the Immunogenicity of Dying Cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe ability of dying cells to activate antigen presenting cells (APCs) is carefully controlled to avoid unwarranted inflammatory responses. Here we show that engulfed cells only containing cytosolic dsDNA species (viral or synthetic) or cyclic di-nucleotides (CDNs) are able to stimulate APCs, via extrinsic STING-signaling.
Extrinsic Phagocyte-Dependent STING Signaling Dictates the Immunogenicity of Dying Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesTransfected double strand DNA were required for the efficient activation of STING to activate innate immune cytokine.
Extrinsic Phagocyte-Dependent STING Signaling Dictates the Immunogenicity of Dying Cells.
Cell line
View SamplesMIST1 is a bHLH transcription factor that is necessary for the maturation of gastric zymogenic cells as they differentiate from their precursor mucous neck cells. In this experiment, mucous neck cells and zymogenic cells of normal, adult C57BL/6 and MIST1 knockout mice were laser-capture microdissected in order to determine MIST1-dependent, zymogenic cell specific gene expression.
The ubiquitin ligase Mindbomb 1 coordinates gastrointestinal secretory cell maturation.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer are significantly higher in African-American men when compared to European-American men. We tested the hypothesis that differences in tumor biology contribute to this survival health disparity. Using microarray technology, we obtained gene expression profiles of primary prostate tumors resected from 33 African-American and 36 European-American patients. These tumors were matched on clinical parameters. We also evaluated 18 non-tumor prostate tissues from 7 African-American and 11 European-American patients. The resulting datasets were analyzed for expression differences on the gene and pathway level comparing African-American with European-American patients. Our analysis revealed a significant number of genes, e.g., 162 transcripts at a false-discovery rate less than 5%, to be differently expressed between African-American and European-American patients. Using a disease association analysis, we identified a common relationship of these transcripts with autoimmunity and inflammation. These findings were corroborated on the pathway level with numerous differently expressed genes clustering in immune response, stress response, cytokine signaling, and chemotaxis pathways. Furthermore, a two-gene tumor signature was identified that accurately differentiated between African-American and European-American patients. This finding was confirmed in a blinded analysis of a second sample set. In conclusion, the gene expression profiles of prostate tumors indicate prominent differences in tumor immunobiology between African-American and European-American men. The profiles portray the existence of a distinct tumor microenvironment in these two patient groups.
Tumor immunobiological differences in prostate cancer between African-American and European-American men.
Race
View SamplesRecent pre-clinical and clinical evidences indicate that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and/or their progeny can serve as vehicles for therapeutic molecule delivery across the blood brain barrier by contributing to the turnover of myeloid cell populations in the brain. However, the differentiation and functional characteristics of the cells reconstituted after transplantation are still to be determined, and in particular whether bona fide microglia could be reconstituted by the donor cell progeny post-transplant to be assessed. We here firstly demonstrate that HSPC transplantation can generate transcriptionally-dependable new microglia through a stepwise process reminiscent of physiological post-natal microglia maturation. Hematopoietic cells able to generate new microglia upon transplantation into myeloablated recipients are retained within human and murine long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Similar transcriptionally dependable new microglia cells can also be generated by intra-cerebral ventricular delivery of HSPCs. Importantly, this novel route is associated to a clinically relevant faster and more widespread microglia replacement compared to systemic HSPC injection. Overall, this work supports the relevance and feasibility of employing HSPCs for renewing brain myeloid and microglia cells with new populations endowed with the ability to exert therapeutic effects in the central nervous system, and identifies novel modalities, such as transplantation of enriched stem cell fractions and direct brain delivery of HSPCs, for increasing the actual contribution of the transplanted cells to microgliosis and their therapeutic activity. Overall design: mRNA profiles of µ and TAµ myeloid brain populations were obtained in triplicate mice of Adult control, P10 control and Adult BU-treated mice after GFP Lin-transplantation (both µ and TAµ populations)
Intracerebroventricular delivery of hematopoietic progenitors results in rapid and robust engraftment of microglia-like cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesG9a mediates a transcriptional switch, and activates the Notch pathway to coordinate endothelial cell and trophoblast proliferation to promote vascular maturation in the placenta. Overall design: Examination of global transcriptional profiles in control and mutant placenta labyrinth at 2 developmental stages (E12.5 and 13.5).
G9a controls placental vascular maturation by activating the Notch Pathway.
Specimen part, Subject
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