Project description:Oxaliplatin (oxPt) resistance in colorectal cancers (CRC) is a major unsolved problem. Consequently, predictive markers and a better understanding of resistance mechanisms are urgently needed. To investigate if the recently identified predictive miR-625-3p is functionally involved in oxPt resistance, stable and inducible models of miR-625-3p dysregulation were analyzed. Ectopic expression of miR-625-3p in CRC cells led to increased resistance towards oxPt. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 6 (MAP2K6/MKK6) – an activator of p38 MAPK - was identified as a functional target of miR-625-3p, and, in agreement, was down-regulated in patients not responding to oxPt therapy. The miR-625-3p resistance phenotype could be reversed by anti-miR-625-3p treatment and by ectopic expression of a miR-625-3p insensitive MAP2K6 variant. Transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles revealed inactivation of MAP2K6-p38 signaling as a possible driving force behind oxPt resistance. We conclude that miR-625-3p induces oxPt resistance by abrogating MAP2K6-p38 regulated apoptosis and cell cycle control networks.
Project description:Oxaliplatin (oxPt) resistance in colorectal cancers (CRC) is a major unsolved problem. Consequently, predictive markers and a better understanding of resistance mechanisms are urgently needed. To investigate if the recently identified predictive miR-625-3p is functionally involved in oxPt resistance, stable and inducible models of miR-625-3p dysregulation were analyzed. Ectopic expression of miR-625-3p in CRC cells led to increased resistance towards oxPt. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 6 (MAP2K6/MKK6) – an activator of p38 MAPK - was identified as a functional target of miR-625-3p, and, in agreement, was down-regulated in patients not responding to oxPt therapy. The miR-625-3p resistance phenotype could be reversed by anti-miR-625-3p treatment and by ectopic expression of a miR-625-3p insensitive MAP2K6 variant. Transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles revealed inactivation of MAP2K6-p38 signaling as a possible driving force behind oxPt resistance. We conclude that miR-625-3p induces oxPt resistance by abrogating MAP2K6-p38 regulated apoptosis and cell cycle control networks. Experimental design for mass spectrometry SILAC experiments can be found at https://figshare.com/s/8e79f008e0e58ec6efc2 or https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4888139
Project description:Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte disarray and fibrosis, which has a prevalence of ~1:200-500 and predisposes individuals to sudden death and heart failure. The mechanisms through which diverse HCM-causing mutations cause cardiac dysfunction remain mostly unknown and their identification may reveal new therapeutic avenues. MicroRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression and disease phenotype in various pathologies. We explored whether miRNAs could play a role in HCM pathogenesis and offer potential therapeutic targets. Methods and Results: Using high-throughput miRNA expression profiling and qPCR analysis in two distinct mouse models of HCM, we found that miR-199a-3p expression levels are upregulated in mutant mice compared to age- and treatment-matched wild-type mice. We also found that miR-199a-3p expression is enriched in cardiac non-myocytes compared to cardiomyocytes. When we expressed miR-199a-3p mimic in cultured primary cardiac non-myocytes and analyzed the conditioned media by proteomics, we found that several ECM proteins (e.g., TSP2, FBLN3, COL11A1, LYOX) were differentially expressed. We confirmed our proteomics findings by qPCR analysis of selected mRNAs and demonstrated that miR-199a-3p mimic expression in cardiac non-myocytes drives upregulation of ECM genes including Tsp2, Fbln3, Pcoc1, Col1a1 and Col3a1. To examine the role of miR-199a-3p in vivo, we inhibited its function using lock-nucleic acid (LNA)-based inhibitors (antimiR-199a-3p) in an HCM mouse model. Our results revealed that progression of cardiac fibrosis is attenuated when miR-199a-3p function is inhibited in mild-to-moderate HCM. Finally, guided by computational target prediction algorithms, we identified mRNAs Cd151 and Itga3 as direct targets of miR-199a-3p and have shown that miR-199a-3p mimic expression negatively regulates AKT activation in cardiac non-myocytes. Conclusions: Altogether, our results suggest that miR-199a-3p may contribute to cardiac fibrosis in HCM through its actions in cardiac non-myocytes. Thus, inhibition of miR-199a-3p in mild-to-moderate HCM may offer therapeutic benefit in combination with complementary approaches that target the primary defect in cardiac myocytes.
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.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
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. One-condition experment, gene expression of 3A6