Project description:Prenatal exposure to maternal stress and depression has been identified as a risk factor for adverse behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood. However, the molecular mechanisms through which maternal psychopathology shapes offspring development remain poorly understood. We analyzed transcriptome-wide gene expression profiles of 149 UCB samples from neonates born to mothers with prenatal PTSD (n=20), depression (n=31) and PTSD with comorbid depression (PTSD/Dep; n=13), compared to neonates born to carefully matched trauma exposed controls without meeting PTSD criteria (TE; n=23) and healthy mothers (n=62). We also evaluated physiological and developmental measures in these infants at birth, six months and twenty-four months. A multistep analytic approach was used that specifically sought to: 1) identify dysregulated genes, molecular pathways and discrete groups of co-regulated gene modules in UCB associated with prenatal maternal psychopathologies; and 2) to determine the impact of perinatal PTSD and depression on early childhood development outcomes.
Project description:Military service members often return from deployment with a multiplicity of injuries, including mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and sleep disorders, which obsures diagnosis of PTSD symptoms and complicates treatment of PTSD. In order to understand the biological mechanisms underlying PTSD, gene expression profiles of military service members with and without PTSD were compared. Additionally, gene expression was examined based on intrusion symptoms, a distinct subtype of PTSD symptoms, and on improvement of PTSD symptoms at a three month follow up. RNA was extracted from blood samples and hybridized to the HG-U133_Plus_2 Affymetrix chip.
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.
