Parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) as well as in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In this study, transgenic mouse lines were used to isolate pure, genetically tagged primary cultures of PECs or podocytes using FACsorting. By this approach, the morphology of primary glomerular epithelial cells in culture could be resolved: Primary podocytes formed either large cells with intracytoplasmatic extensions or smaller spindle shaped cells, depending on specific culture conditions. Primary PECs were small and exhibited a spindle-shaped or polygonal morphology. In the very early phases of primary culture, rapid changes in gene expression (e.g. of WT-1 and Pax-2) were observed. However, after prolonged culture primary PECs and podocytes still segregated clearly in a transcriptome analysis - demonstrating that the origin of primary cell cultures is important. Of the classical markers, synaptopodin and podoplanin expression were differentially regulated the most in primary PEC and podocyte cultures. However, no expression of any endogenous gene allowed to differentiate between the two cell types in culture. Finally, we show that the transcription factor WT1 is also expressed by PECs. In summary, genetic tagging of PECs and podocytes is a novel and necessary tool to derive pure primary cultures with proven origin. These cultures will be a powerful tool for the emerging field of parietal epithelial cell biology.
Primary cultures of glomerular parietal epithelial cells or podocytes with proven origin.
Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptomes of differentiated cells of the conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line SVI (Schiwek et al., Kidney Int. 66: 91-101, 2004) were determined as described in Kabgani et al. (PLoS One 7:e34907, 2012).
Primary cultures of glomerular parietal epithelial cells or podocytes with proven origin.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe understanding of metastatic spread is limited and molecular mechanisms causing particular characteristics of metastasis, like varying dormancy periods of Mets originating from the same primary tumor entity or the differing number of Mets in patients with the same primary tumor, are largely unknown. Knowing the molecular fundamentals of these phenomena would support the prognosis of patients outcome and facilitate the decision for an appropriate therapy regime.
Gene signatures of pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma reflect the disease-free interval and the number of metastases per patient.
Sex
View SamplesA large body of evidence has demonstrated that many human tumors are maintained by a small cell population called cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor progenitors, which are responsible for tumor formation, therapy resistance and metastasis. We found that ionizing radiation treatment enriches for the CSC phenotype and properties by preferential survival and expansion of tumor progenitor cells. Our studies revealed that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is indicative of prostate tumor progenitor cells with increased chemo- and radioresistance, enhanced migratory potential, improved DNA- double strand break repair and activation of the signaling pathways, which promote self-renewal and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We found that X-ray irradiation can convert the bulk tumor cells to more clonogenic and radioresistant population positive for expression of CSC markers. For the first time we showed that irradiation increases histone H3K4 and H3K36 methylation in prostate cancer cells, thereby reactivating transcription of epigenetically silenced target genes. We showed that radioresistant tumor progenitor population undergoes a phenotypical switching during the course of irradiation, suggesting that controlling the phenotypical and functional properties of CSCs during radiation therapy is ultimative for the optimization of treatment strategies. Our studies have shown that CSC markers may be beneficial in prediction of tumor radiocurability, and combination of irradiation with therapies directed against CSCs can be a useful strategy to improve cancer treatment.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Is Regulated by β-Catenin/TCF and Promotes Radioresistance in Prostate Cancer Progenitor Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesGene expression was analysed in the colon and brain of normal rat pups from late prenatal through early postnatal development. Tissue was isolated from pups one day prior to the anticipated date of birth and throughout the suckling period until the end of weaning.
Sialic acid utilisation and synthesis in the neonatal rat revisited.
Specimen part
View SamplesA gene expression profiling sub-study was conducted in which skin biopsy samples were collected from 85 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were participating in ACCEPT, an IRB-approved Phase 3, multicenter, randomized trial. This analysis identified 4,175 probe-sets as being significantly modulated in psoriasis lesions (LS) compared with matched biopsies of non-lesional (NL) skin.
Expanding the psoriasis disease profile: interrogation of the skin and serum of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesThere is a controversy surrounding the existence of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPPP) as separate clinical entities or as variants of the same clinical entity. We used gene expression microarray to compare gene expression in PPP and PPPP. PPP and PPPP could not be differentiated using gene expression microarray suggesting that they are not distinct clinical entities. Increased expression of GPRIN1, and ADAM23 in keratinocytes suggests that these proteins could be new therapeutic targets for PPP/PPPP.
Based on Molecular Profiling of Gene Expression, Palmoplantar Pustulosis and Palmoplantar Pustular Psoriasis Are Highly Related Diseases that Appear to Be Distinct from Psoriasis Vulgaris.
Specimen part, Disease, Subject
View SamplesLeukotriene E4 (LTE4) the most stable of the cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) binds poorly to classical type 1 (CysLT1) and 2 (CysLT2) receptors although it induces potent responses in human airways in vivo, such as bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory cell influx suggesting the presence of a novel receptor that preferentially responds to LTE4. To identify such a receptor two human mast cell lines, LAD2 and LUVA, were selected that differentially responded to LTE4 when analysed by intracellular signalling and gene expression. Comparative transcriptome analysis and recombinant gene overexpression experiments revealed CysLT1 as a receptor responsible for potent LTE4-induced response in LAD2 but not in LUVA cells, an observation confirmed further by gene knockdown and selective inhibitors. Lentiviral overexpression of CysLT1 in LUVA cells augmented intracellular calcium signalling induced by LTE4 but did not restore full agonist responses at the gene expression level. Our data support a model where both an increased expression of Gq-coupled CysLT1, and sustained intracellular calcium mobilisation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) activation, are required for LTE4-mediated regulation of gene expression in human cells. Our study shows for the first time that CysLT1 expression is critically important for responsiveness to LTE4 within a human cell system.
Leukotriene E4 is a full functional agonist for human cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor-dependent gene expression.
Cell line
View SamplesDiscoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common skin manifestation of lupus. Despite its high frequency in systemic lupus in addition to cases without extracutaneous manifestations, targeted treatments for DLE are lacking, likely because of a dearth of knowledge of the molecular landscape of DLE skin. Here, we profiled the transcriptome of DLE skin in order to identify signaling pathways and cellular signatures that may be targeted for treatment purposes. Further comparison of the DLE transcriptome with that of psoriasis, a useful reference given our extensive knowledge of molecular pathways in this disease, provided a framework to identify potential therapeutic targets. Although a growing body of data support a role for IL-17 and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells in systemic lupus, we show a relative enrichment of IFN--associated genes without that for IL-17-associated genes in DLE. Extraction of T cells from the skin of DLE patients identified a predominance of IFN--producing Th1 cells and an absence of IL-17-producing Th17 cells, complementing the results from whole-skin transcriptomic analyses. These data therefore support investigations into treatments for DLE that target Th1 cells or the IFN- signaling pathway.
Dominant Th1 and minimal Th17 skewing in discoid lupus revealed by transcriptomic comparison with psoriasis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesPolycomb group proteins (PcG) are well known by their function in the regulation of developmental processes. PcG mediated regulation of genetic programs required for proper development are triggered by EZH2 H3K27 methyltransferase activity. EZH1 can partially substitute EZH2 activity. However, unlike EZH2, EZH1 is presence in differentiated and adult tissues suggesting additional biological functions. Here we show that EZH2 is predominantly expressed in neural stem cells being essential for neural stem cells self renewal and homeostasis. There, it controls the transcriptional state of cell cycle regulators, such as CIP1. But it is also necessary to regulate genes involved in surveillance and neuroepithelial polarity. In contrast, EZH1 expression is more abundant in differentiated cells within the spinal cord and its downregulation unables neural stem cells to differentiate. All together our data reveal a complementary but non-redundant role of EZH2 and EZH1 in neurogenesis.
EZH2 regulates neuroepithelium structure and neuroblast proliferation by repressing p21.
Specimen part
View Samples