Project description:Allele-specific circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing (4C-seq) using the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2836411 as a bait was performed in two cell types: human umibilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).
Project description:ERG (Ets Related Gene) is an ETS transcription factor that was originally described for its role in a number of human cancers. Our preliminary data demonstrate that ERG exhibits a highly EC restricted pattern of expression in cultured primary cells and several adult tissues including the heart, lung, and brain. In response to inflammatory stimuli, such as TNF-alpha, we observed a marked reduction of ERG expression in EC. To further define the role of ERG in the regulation of normal EC function we used RNA interference to knockdown ERG. Knockdown of ERG in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) using siRNA was associated with the reduction of a number known ERG targets. Keywords: SIRNA Functional Role
Project description:The endothelial transcription factor Erg (Ets Related Gene) plays an important role in homeostasis and angiogenesis by regulating many endothelial functions including survival and junction stability. Here we show that Erg regulates endothelial cell migration. Transcriptome profiling of Erg-deficient endothelial cells (EC) identified 80 genes involved in cell migration as candidate Erg targets, including regulators of the Rho GTPases. Inhibition of Erg expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) resulted in decreased migration in vitro, whilst Erg over-expression using adenovirus caused increased migration. Live-cell imaging of Erg-deficient HUVEC showed a reduction in lamellipodia, in line with decreased motility. Both actin and tubulin cytoskeletons were disrupted in Erg-deficient EC, with a dramatic increase in tubulin acetylation. Amongst the most significant microarray hit was the cytosolic histone deacetylase (HDAC)-6, a regulator of cell migration. Rescue experiments confirmed that HDAC6 mediates the Erg-dependent regulation of tubulin acetylation and actin localization.
Project description:The endothelial transcription factor Erg (Ets Related Gene) plays an important role in homeostasis and angiogenesis by regulating many endothelial functions including survival and junction stability. Here we show that Erg regulates endothelial cell migration. Transcriptome profiling of Erg-deficient endothelial cells (EC) identified 80 genes involved in cell migration as candidate Erg targets, including regulators of the Rho GTPases. Inhibition of Erg expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) resulted in decreased migration in vitro, whilst Erg over-expression using adenovirus caused increased migration. Live-cell imaging of Erg-deficient HUVEC showed a reduction in lamellipodia, in line with decreased motility. Both actin and tubulin cytoskeletons were disrupted in Erg-deficient EC, with a dramatic increase in tubulin acetylation. Amongst the most significant microarray hit was the cytosolic histone deacetylase (HDAC)-6, a regulator of cell migration. Rescue experiments confirmed that HDAC6 mediates the Erg-dependent regulation of tubulin acetylation and actin localization. The functional role of Erg in EC was studied by gene expressing profiling using three separate HUVEC isolates treated with either control antisense or Erg-specific antisense for 24 or 48 hours.
Project description:We provide the functional and epigenomic evidence for ERG binding to super-enhancers in HUVEC and further show that loss of ERG results in inhibition of specific endothelial super-enhancers and associated target genes.
Project description:We provide the functional and epigenomic evidence for ERG binding to super-enhancers in HUVEC and further show that loss of ERG results in inhibition of specific endothelial super-enhancers and associated target genes.
Project description:To explore the potential involvement of tRNA derived fragments (tRFs) in the human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs), we conducted tRFs profiling in three pairs of differentiated HASMCs (treated with PBS) and dedifferentiated HASMCs (treated with PDGF-BB 50 ng/ml) by microarray. Our results showed that tRFs were aberrantly expressed in dedifferentiated HASMCs compared with differentiated HASMCs and provided potential targets for novel insights into VSMC differentiation or vascular remodeling diseases.
Project description:DS children have a 500-fold increased risk for developing acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL). Around 10% of DS newborns have a transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) that resolves spontaneously. Somatic mutations acquired during fetal hematopoiesis in the GATA1 transcription factor are detected in megakaryoblasts from all the DS TMDs or AMKLs. GATA1 is an X chromosome transcription factor essential for the development of multiple hematopoietic lineages. Loss of GATA1 results in embryonic lethality due to severe anemia. The GATA1 mutations result in the expression of a shorter isoform, GATA1s. Replacement of GATA1 with GATA1s causes transient proliferation of immature fetal megakaryocytic progenitors. The Hsa21 ETS transcription factor, ERG, is expressed in megakaryocytes and erythrocytes and is involved in several types of cancer. Mutation in GATA1 gene leading to expression of the short isoform (GATA1s) that occurs on the background of trisomy 21 is regarded as one of the driving forces for megakaryocytic expansion observed in DS fetal livers. ERG, which is located on chromosome 21, is considered one of the leading candidates to cooperate with GATA1 mutation in the generation of DS AMKL. To study the in vivo cooperation between ERG and GATA1 isoforms, we crossed the ERG transgenic mice with the GATA1s Knock-in mice (GATA null background). We found that males expressing both ERG and the short isoform of GATA1(GATA1s) died in uterus between embryonic days E121/2 and E141/2.We studied erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis in fetal livers from the different genotypes generated from our cross. We used expression array to study the specific interaction of ERG with the different GATA1 isoforms in fetal livers from E121/2 and E141/2 and identify ERG, GATA1 and GATA1s target genes by comparing sets of genes that are activated or repressed in the presence of ERG and the two isoforms of GATA1.