Project description:Gene expression profiles of specific neuronal populations might explain differential vulnerability to neurodegeneration in the lethal disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using laser capture microscopy (LCM) and RNA sequencing (LCM-seq), we demonstrate that the molecular signature of degeneration-resistant oculomotor neurons (OMNs) is distinct from that of vulnerable spinal motor neurons (MNs).
Project description:High levels of oxidative stress and an associated neuronal DDR occur at the earliest stages of Alzheimer pathology (low Braak stage), and is associated with cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to combine immuno-LCM and microarray analysis to characterize the neuronal transcriptome at low Braak stages (Braak 0-II), with respect to the neuronal DDR, in post-mortem human frontal cortex derived from the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC-CFAS).
Project description:Transcriptome analysis of Ts1Cje (mouse model of Down syndrome) and euploids murine cerebellum during postnatal development Keywords = Down syndrome Keywords = Chromosome 21 Keywords = Transcriptome Keywords = Microarray Keywords = Cerebellum Keywords = Development Keywords: other
Project description:Components of the proteostasis network malfunction in the aging brain and this reduced neuronal protein quality control has been proposed to increase risk for neurodegeneration. Here, we have focused on chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a selective type of autophagy that contributes to turnover of neurodegeneration-related proteins. We generated mouse models with CMA blockage in dopaminergic or glutamatergic neurons to investigate the physiological role of CMA in neurons in vivo and the consequences of neuronal CMA loss in aging, We found that loss of neuronal CMA leads to behavioral impairments, altered neuronal function, selective changes in the neuronal proteome and proteotoxicity, all reminiscent of brain aging. Furthermore, imposing CMA loss on an experimental mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, increased neuronal disease vulnerability and accelerated disease progression. We conclude that functional CMA is essential for neuronal proteostasis and that CMA activation could be an efficient disease-modifying therapy in neurodegenerative disorders.
Project description:In situ transposition followed by laser capture microdissection was applied to lung and brain mouse tissue sections to demonstrate feasibility of LCM-based spatial chromatin accessibility analysis of regions of interest.
Project description:To investigate the etiology of the hyperandrogenic phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a prenatally androgenized (PNA) mouse model was validated and used for microarray analysis.
Project description:High ploidy large cytoplasmic megakaryocytes (LCM) are critical negative regulators of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and are responsible for platelet formation. Using a mouse knockout model with normal megakaryocyte numbers but essentially devoid of LCM (MK-LCM KO), we demonstrated a pronounced increase in bone marrow HSC concurrent with endogenous mobilization and extramedullary hematopoiesis. When HSC isolated from a MK-LCM KO microenvironment were transplanted in lethally irradiated mice, the absence of LCM increased HSC in BM, blood and spleen. Severe thrombocytopenia was observed in animals with diminished LCM, although there was no change in megakaryocyte ploidy distribution. In contrast, WT HSC-generated LCM regulated a normal HSC pool and prevented thrombocytopenia. The present label-free quantitative LC-MSMS data was used to determine proteins that are differentially expressed in bone marrow cells of MK-LCM WT versus MK-LCM KO mice.
