Project description:Atxn7 repeat expansion mutations lead to ataxia phenotypes. Total cerebellar RNA from mice with normal Atxn7 repeat lengths and expanded repeats (92 CAG) were sequenced to compared gene expression changes at 12 and 29 weeks of age in normal vs. expanded repeats.
Project description:Hui2014 - Age-related changes in articular
cartilage
This model is described in the article:
Oxidative changes and
signalling pathways are pivotal in initiating age-related
changes in articular cartilage
Wang Hui1, David A Young1, Andrew D
Rowan1, Xin Xu2, Tim E Cawston1, Carole J Proctor1,3
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Abstract:
Objective: To use a computational approach to investigate
the cellular and extracellular matrix changes that occur with
age in the knee joints of mice. Methods: Knee joints from an
inbred C57/BL1/6 (ICRFa) mouse colony were harvested at
3–30?months of age. Sections were stained with H&E,
Safranin-O, Picro-sirius red and antibodies to matrix
metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), nitrotyrosine, LC-3B, Bcl-2, and
cleaved type II collagen used for immunohistochemistry. Based
on this and other data from the literature, a computer
simulation model was built using the Systems Biology Markup
Language using an iterative approach of data analysis and
modelling. Individual parameters were subsequently altered to
assess their effect on the model. Results: A progressive loss
of cartilage matrix occurred with age. Nitrotyrosine, MMP-13
and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK1) staining in cartilage
increased with age with a concomitant decrease in LC-3B and
Bcl-2. Stochastic simulations from the computational model
showed a good agreement with these data, once transforming
growth factor-? signalling via ALK1/ALK5 receptors was
included. Oxidative stress and the interleukin 1 pathway were
identified as key factors in driving the cartilage breakdown
associated with ageing. Conclusions: A progressive loss of
cartilage matrix and cellularity occurs with age. This is
accompanied with increased levels of oxidative stress,
apoptosis and MMP-13 and a decrease in chondrocyte autophagy.
These changes explain the marked predisposition of joints to
develop osteoarthritis with age. Computational modelling
provides useful insights into the underlying mechanisms
involved in age-related changes in musculoskeletal tissues.
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Project description:The decline in adaptive immunity, naïve T-cell output and a contraction in the peripheral T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire with age are largely attributable to thymic involution and the loss of critical cytokines and hormones within the thymic microenvironment. To assess the molecular changes associated with this loss of thymic function, we used cDNA microarray analyses to examine the transcriptomes of thymocytes from mice of various ages ranging from very young (1 month) to very old (24 months). Genes associated with various biological and molecular processes including oxidative phosphorylation, T- and B- cell receptor signaling and antigen presentation were observed to significantly change with thymocyte age. These include several immunoglobulin chains, chemokine and ribosomal proteins, annexin A2, vav 1 and several S100 signaling proteins. The increased expression of immunoglobulin genes in aged thymocytes could be attributed to the thymic B cells which were found to be actively producing IgG and IgM antibodies. Upon further examination, we found that purified thymic T cells derived from aged but not young thymi also exhibited IgM on their cell surface suggesting the possible presence of auto-antibodies on the surface thymocytes with advancing age. These studies provide valuable insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with thymic aging. Keywords: Thymocytes, thymic involution, aging, time course 3 replicates each from the 6, 16 and 24 month old animals were labeled with Cy-3 and hybridized with a Cy-5 labeled pool from 1 month old mice. The data from the 2 channels are being reported here separately.
Project description:Here we present clear patterns of age-associated changes in DNA methylation in the aquatic vetebrate species Xenopus tropicalis. We generated nine whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) datasets from three distinct age groups (young, approx. 1 year old; mature, approx. 5 years old; old, approx. 9 years old) to characterize the gene- and chromosome-scale changes.
Project description:Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a central role in energy homeostasis through non-shivering thermogenesis. Besides, recent human studies using 18FDG-PET/CT imaging demonstrated that BAT acts as a significant metabolic-sink for glucose. Notably, these functions in BAT decrease with age: however what regulates this process remains poorly understood. To this end, we employed RNA-seq to identify the transcriptional changes in BAT of young and old mice.