Project description:Ascorbate activates CD30 expression and causes widespread specific demethylation of the epigenome of serum free cultured hESC. The genetic and epigenetic integrity of human Embryonic Stem cells (hESCs) is critical to their future applications in research and medicine. hESC cultured in serum free media can accumulate point mutations, aneuploidy and progressive epigenetic changes over prolonged culture in vitro. We have identified ascorbate as the only molecule in the very widely used Knock-out serum replacement medium that is sufficient to induce expression of CD30, a biomarker for aneuploidy in hESCs. In fact, we show that hESC cultured in the presence of ascorbate for 20 passages not only display demethylation of the CD30 locus, but exhibit widespread and remarkably specific and consistent demethylation of 1,847 genes in both HES2 and HES3 cells. The specific ascorbate induced demethylation changes in the hESC epigenome, of which 86% are shared between the two lines, identify a subset of genes in hESC, including CD30, that are sensitive to serum free culture medium induced epigenetic changes. Experiment. HES2 cells were maintained on 20% Fetal calf serum on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers with mechanical dissection. Using HES2 after 99 mechanical passages (P99), hESC were grown for 17-20 (+17 - +20) passages in the presence of 20% Knock-Out Serum Replacement (Invitrogen) either with (+ASC) or without (-ASC) Ascorbate with enzymatic culturing.
Project description:Ascorbate activates CD30 expression and causes widespread specific demethylation of the epigenome of serum free cultured hESC. The genetic and epigenetic integrity of human Embryonic Stem cells (hESCs) is critical to their future applications in research and medicine. hESC cultured in serum free media can accumulate point mutations, aneuploidy and progressive epigenetic changes over prolonged culture in vitro. We have identified ascorbate as the only molecule in the very widely used Knock-out serum replacement medium that is sufficient to induce expression of CD30, a biomarker for aneuploidy in hESCs. In fact, we show that hESC cultured in the presence of ascorbate for 20 passages not only display demethylation of the CD30 locus, but exhibit widespread and remarkably specific and consistent demethylation of 1,847 genes in both HES2 and HES3 cells. The specific ascorbate induced demethylation changes in the hESC epigenome, of which 86% are shared between the two lines, identify a subset of genes in hESC, including CD30, that are sensitive to serum free culture medium induced epigenetic changes. Experiment. HES2 cells were maintained on 20% Fetal calf serum on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers with mechanical dissection. Using HES2 after 99 mechanical passages (P99), hESC were grown for 17-20 (+17 - +20) passages in the presence of 20% Knock-Out Serum Replacement (Invitrogen) either with (+ASC) or without (-ASC) Ascorbate with enzymatic culturing. RNA (FACs sorted for the presence of the pluripotent stem marker TG30) from three passages (17, 19 and 20) (replicates) for both +ASC and âASC samples were arrayed.
Project description:Identification of factors in conditioned media of first-trimester placental villous explants. Explants were cultured under hypoxia (2% O2), 5% CO2 in serum-free DMEM/F12 and treated with recombinant galectin-7 (1ug/ml) or vehicle control (BSA) for 72h. Identification of factors in conditioned media of first-trimester placental villous explants. Explants were cultured under superoxia (20% O2), 5% CO2 in serum-free DMEM/F12 and treated with recombinant galectin-7 (1ug/ml) or vehicle control (BSA) for 72h.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.