Systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma is a chronic multiorgan autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by vascular, immunological and fibrotic abnormalities. Several lines of evidence have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a role in the pathophysiology of SSc. VCE-004.8, a CBD aminoquinone derivative, is a dual PPAR?/CB2 that alleviates bleomycin (BLM)-induced skin fibrosis. Herein we report that EHP-101, an oral lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8, prevents skin and lung fibrosis and collagen accumulation in BLM challenged mice. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the skin demonstrate that EHP-101 prevents macrophage infiltration, and the expression of Tenascin C (TNC), VCAM, and the a-smooth muscle actin (SMA). In addition, a reduced expression of vascular CD31, paralleling skin fibrosis, was also prevented by EHP-101. RNAseq analysis in skin biopsies showed a clear effect of EHP-101 in the inflammatory and epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcriptomic signatures. TGF-beta regulated genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-3 (Mmp3), cytochrome b-245 heavy chain (Cybb), lymphocyte antigen 6E (Ly6e), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (Vcam1) and the Integrin alpha-5 (Itga5) were induced in BLM mice and repressed by EHP-101 treatment. We also intersected differentially expressed genes in EHP-101-treated mice with dataset of human scleroderma intrinsic genes and found 53 overlapped genes, including the C-C motif chemokine 2 (Ccl2) and the interleukin 13 receptor subunit alpha 1 (IL-13Ra1) genes, which have been studied as biomarkers of SSc. Altogether the results indicate that this synthetic cannabinoid qualifies as a novel compound for the management and possible treatment of scleroderma and, potentially, other fibrotic diseases. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiles were generated for six- to eight-week-old female BALB/c mice in three conditions: Control, Bleomycin and Bleomycin + EHP-101 treatment (N=2).
EHP-101, an oral formulation of the cannabidiol aminoquinone VCE-004.8, alleviates bleomycin-induced skin and lung fibrosis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSeveral lines of evidence have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a role in the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Thereby, structurally different dual PPAR?/CB2 agonists such as VCE-004.8 and Ajulemic acid (AjA) have been shown to alleviate skin fibrosis and inflammation in experimental models of SSc. Since both compounds are currently being tested in humans, we were interested to identify similarities and differences in a murine model of SSc. One method available to assess this is the pharmacotranscriptomic signature of the individual compounds. To analyze the pharmacotranscriptomic signature, we used RNA-Seq to analyze the skin gene expression changes from bleomycin-induced fibrosis in mice treated orally with either AjA or EHP-101, a lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8. While both compounds prevented the upregulation of a common group of genes involved in the inflammatory and fibrotic components of the disease and the pharmacotranscriptomic signatures were similar for both compounds in some pathways, we found key differences between the compounds in several functional groups, including genes related the hypoxia, interferon-a and interferon-? response. Additionally, we found 28 specific genes with translation potential by comparing our results with a list of intrinsic human scleroderma genes. Inmunohistochemical analysis revealed that both EHP-101 and AjA prevented bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis, collagen accumulation, and TNC and VCAM expression. However, only EHP-101 normalized the reduced expression of vascular CD31, CD34 and Von Willebrand factor markers, which parallels skin fibrosis, while AjA did not affect these markers. Finally, clear differences were also found in the plasmatic biomarker analysis, in which we found that EHP-101, but not AjA, enhanced the expression of some factors related to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Altogether the results indicate that dual PPAR?/CB2 agonists qualify as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of SSc and other fibrotic diseases as well, and that EHP-101 has unique mechanisms of action related to the pathophysiology of SSc which could be beneficial in treatment of this complex disease with no current therapeutic options. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiles were generated for six- to eight-week-old female BALB/c mice in four conditions: Control, Bleomycin, Bleomycin + EHP-101 treatment and Bleomycin + Ajulemic acid treatment. Please note that the "raw_counts_newsamples.txt" includes raw counts obtained from featureCounts for the samples included in this entry and the "raw_counts_merged.txt" includes raw counts obtained from merging the counts of the samples from this entry with the counts of the samples from the GSE115503 entry.
Cannabinoid derivatives acting as dual PPARγ/CB2 agonists as therapeutic agents for systemic sclerosis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesHuman umbilical cord Whartons jelly stem cells (WHJSC) are gaining attention as a possible clinical source of mesenchymal stem cells for use in cell therapy and tissue engineering due to their high accessibility, expansion potential and plasticity. However, the cell viability changes that are associated to sequential cell passage of these cells are not known. In this analysis, we have identified the gene expression changes that are associated to cell passage in WHJSC.
Evaluation of the cell viability of human Wharton's jelly stem cells for use in cell therapy.
Specimen part
View SamplesThree groups of male +b and bb rats were obtained (ages between 6 and 14 months) and intestinal scrapes were taken. Tissues was combined from 3 rats per group and processed for gene chip analysis.
Induction of arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (Alox15) in intestine of iron-deficient rats correlates with the production of biologically active lipid mediators.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe objective of this study was to analyze gene expression associated to extracellular matrix components of normal palmar fascia and tissues affected by Dupuytren's disease.
Identification of histological patterns in clinically affected and unaffected palm regions in dupuytren's disease.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe maize inbred line A661 shows a characteristic phenotype when grown at suboptimal temperatures for three weeks and then is exposed to optimal temperatures for one extra week. After this period the third leaf showed two well defined sections: distal (chlorophyll-less; CL) and proximal (chlorophyll-containing; CC) sections. To further investigate the performance of the inbred line A661 under cold conditions a gene expression profiling analysis was conducted using large scale maize microarrays. A total of 1002 transcripts change their expression between both leaf sections and the majority of these codify for proteins located to the chloroplast.
Genetic regulation of cold-induced albinism in the maize inbred line A661.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Defective decidualization during and after severe preeclampsia reveals a possible maternal contribution to the etiology.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesRecent studies suggest the potential involvement of common antigenic stimuli on the ontogeny of monoclonal TCRalphabeta+/CD4+/NKa+/CD8-/+dim T-large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphocytosis. Since healthy individuals show (oligo)clonal expansions of hCMV-specific TCRVbeta+/CD4+/cytotoxic/memory T-cells, we investigate the potential involvement of hCMV in the origin and/or expansion of monoclonal CD4+ T-LGL. A detailed characterization of those genes that underwent changes in T-LGL cells responding to hCMV was performed by microarray gene expression profile (GEP) analysis.
Expanded cells in monoclonal TCR-alphabeta+/CD4+/NKa+/CD8-/+dim T-LGL lymphocytosis recognize hCMV antigens.
Sex, Subject
View SamplesIn preeclampsia (PE), cytotrophoblast (CTB) invasion of the uterus and spiral arteries is often shallow. Thus, the placentas role has been a focus. We hypothesized that decidual defects are an important determinant of the placental phenotype. We isolated (human) endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) from non-pregnant donors with a prior pregnancy that was complicated by severe PE (sPE). Versus controls, they failed to decidualize as demonstrated by morphological criteria and the analysis of stage-specific antigens. These results were bolstered by showing that they were transcriptionally inert. Additionally, we used laser microdissection to isolate the decidua from tissue sections of the maternal-fetal interface. Transcriptional profiling revealed sPE-associated defects in gene expression. Also, decidual cells from sPE patients, which de-differentiated in vitro, failed to re-decidualize in culture. Immediately following isolation they released factors that inhibited CTB invasion, linking a possible cause to a known effect. These data suggested that failed decidualization is an important contributor to down regulated CTB invasion in sPE. Diagnosis of this defect prior to pregnancy would enable therapies that are designed to improve decidualization, a novel strategy for prevention.
Defective decidualization during and after severe preeclampsia reveals a possible maternal contribution to the etiology.
Specimen part
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 Samples