Project description:Tissue fibrosis is a common pathway to organ injury and failure. It is characterized by an excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in organs. Deciphering the fibrogenic processes is of utmost importance, as there are few effective therapies in fibrotic diseases 1. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a prototypical disease where fibroblasts (Fb) are key effector cells as they differentiate into myofibroblasts in response to chronic inflammation under the influence of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) pathway 2–4. In this study, we compared the proteome of primary Fb in different culture and stimulation conditions. Primary dermal normal human Fb were cultured at passage P3, P5 and P7 with and without Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). At fifth passage, Fb were stimulated or not with different concentrations of recombinant human active TGF-β1 (0.04, 1 and 5 ng/mL) during 24, 48 and 72 hours.
Project description:Recent work has identified markers of fibroblast heterogeneity in human dermis. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, characterised by the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Human dermal fibroblasts (hDF), treated with TGF-β1, were assayed for differentiation, proliferation and cell shape using the Operetta imaging system. One donor hDF, derived from female 64-year-old breast skin, expressed decreased levels of α-SMA protein. The gene expression profile of this donor hDF was determined using the Agilent microarray system. Four gene candidates (Asporin, ASPN; C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1, CXCL1; Insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF1; and Wnt family member 4, WNT4) were chosen based on expression values and validated by TaqMan qPCR. Successful knockdown of IGF1 and WNT4 was achieved using MISSION shRNA-based lentiviral treatment. Fibroblast IGF1 knockdown (shIGF1) increased α-SMA mRNA and protein expression; no effect was seen with fibroblast WNT4 knockdown (shWNT4). Here I have characterised hDF phenotype and gene expression with regard to population heterogeneity. This work highlights the role of IGF-1 signalling on α-SMA expression and dermal fibroblast fate. Targeting IGF-1 signalling could provide therapeutic benefit for skin disorders involving aberrant wound healing and excessive fibrosis.
Project description:miRNA profiling of human H9-derived neural stem cells (H9-NSCs) comparing control human adult dermal fibroblasts (hDFs), SOX2-transduced human induced neural stem cells (hDF-iNSC (SOX2)), SOX2/HMGA2-transduced human induced neural stem cells (hDF-iNSC (SOX2/HMGA2)). Goal was to determine the global miRNA expression between the groups. H9-NSC vs hDF vs hDF-iNSC(SOX2) vs hDF-iNSC(SOX2/HMGA2)
Project description:miRNA profiling of human H9-derived neural stem cells (H9-NSCs) comparing control human adult dermal fibroblasts (hDFs), SOX2-transduced human induced neural stem cells (hDF-iNSC (SOX2)), SOX2/HMGA2-transduced human induced neural stem cells (hDF-iNSC (SOX2/HMGA2)). Goal was to determine the global miRNA expression between the groups.
Project description:To investigate the contribution of fibroblast-derived extracellular matrices (ECMs) to the resistance to targeted therapies in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells, we generated native-like 3D ECMs from human primary fibroblasts obtained from healthy individuals or melanoma patients. Cell-derived matrices from human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), skin melanoma associated fibroblasts (MAF) and two different lymph node fibroblast reticular cells (FRC) were denuded of cells and their composition was analyzed by mass spectrometry.
Project description:The effect at long term (15 days) of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), TGFβ or TGFβ + anti-Lif stimulation on the human primary dermal fibroblast (hDF) transcriptome was analyzed by whole genome microarray expression profiling.
Project description:The effect at short term (48 hours) of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), TGFβ or TGFβ + anti-Lif stimulation on the human primary dermal fibroblast (hDF) transcriptome was analyzed by whole genome microarray expression profiling.
Project description:Fibrotic diseases have significant health impact and have been associated with differentiation of the resident fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. In particular, stiffened extracellular matrix and TGF-β1 in fibrotic lesions have been shown to promote pathogenic myofibroblast activation and progression of fibrosis in various tissues. To better understand the roles of mechanical and chemical cues on myofibroblast differentiation and how they may crosstalk, we cultured primary valvular interstitial cells (VICs) isolated from porcine aortic valves and studied how traditional TCPS culture, which presents a non-physiologically stiff environment, and TGF-β1 affect native VIC phenotypes. We carried out gene expression profiling using porcine genome microarrays from Affymetrix and found that traditional TCPS culture induces major changes in gene expression of native VICs, rendering these cells more activated and similar to cells treated with TGF-β1. We also monitored time-dependent effects induced by TGF-β1 by examining gene expression changes induced by TGF-β1 at 8 hours and 24 hours. Porcine aortic VICs were isolated and cultured with or without TGF-β1 treatment for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We included 3 biological replicates for each condition. P0 VICs were freshly isolated cells which had not been cultured. P2 VICs were cells that had been passaged 2 times and cultured on plastic plates in low serum media. Some of the P2 VICs were treated with TGF-β1 at 5ng/ml for 8 hours or 24 hours. All the control and TGF-β1-treated conditions were collected at the same time on day 3 of culture.
Project description:We generated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) datasets of primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells stimulated with TGF-β1 or vehicle. Following TGF-β1 stimulation, hPTC expressed TGF-β1 and its downstream targets. Moreover, TGF-β1-treated hPTC were characterized by a differential expression of pro-fibrotic genes, which we had recently showed to be characteristic of polyploid hPTC and were enriched with hypertrophy, indicative of cell polyploidization.
Project description:Skin damage from solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) accumulates in the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) and contributes to photoaging. Following UVR exposure, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are secreted by dermal fibroblasts to repair and remodel the ECM. Molecular signaling pathways delineating the induction of MMPs are currently well-defined; however, the effects of UV exposure on epigenetic mechanisms of MMP induction are not as well understood. An epigenetic mechanism would further describe how MMP genes are regulated in response to UV. In this study, we examined solar simulated UVR (ssUVR)-induced gene expression changes and alterations to histone methylation in the promoters of MMP1 and MMP3 in primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). This set of gene expression data was generated to identify photoaging related genes (including MMP) that were impacted by ssUVR exposure in our system. Primary neonatal human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) were irradiated a single time with 12 J/cm2 ssUVR. The sham treatments are negative controls (0 J/cm2 ssUVR). The cells were collected for gene expression analysis 1 day after exposure, and then 5 days after exposure. Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST arrays were used to characterize gene expression pattern alterations in response to ssUVR.