Project description:Mx1-Cre/KrasG12D mice were injected with pIpC to induce a myeloproliferative disease resembling human chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML-like MPD). When the disease was fully developed, CD11b-/Ly6G-/c-Kit+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were isolated and subjected to miR-microarray expression profiling. pIpC-injected CD11b-/Ly6G-/c-Kit+ HSPCs of age matched wildytpe control mice were used as controls.
Project description:Oncogenic KrasG12D, a driver mutation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), induces neoplastic transformation of acinar cells through acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). Here, we show that both functional complexes of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase, mTORC1 and mTORC2) are specifically activated in ADM. Murine models uncover that mTORC1 and mTORC2 cooperate to promote KrasG12D-driven ADM development. Proteomic analyses identify Arp2/3 complex, an actin nucleator, as the common downstream effector: mTORC1 is responsible for the protein synthesis of Rac1 and Arp3 while mTORC2 promotes the Arp2/3 complex activity via Akt/Rac1 signalling. Genetic ablation of Arp2/3 complex completely arrests KrasG12D-driven ADM development. The Arp2/3 complex-mediated y-branching of actin network promotes the basolateral spread of filamentous actin, which is indispensable for acinar cells-initiated carcinogenesis. Induced by oncogenic KrasG12D, ADM is a metaplastic phenotype of acinar cells that requires extensive actin rearrangements. mTORC1 and mTORC2, downstream targets of KrasG12D, have well-established oncogenic functions in PDAC development. The actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex is the first identified actin nucleator. Regarded as textbook knowledge, it is activated by EGFR/Rac1 signalling to promote the polymerisation of branched actin filaments from pre-existing filaments in numerous biological contexts. Hereby, we identify that mTORC1 and mTORC2 attain a dual, yet non-redundant, regulatory role in promoting Arp2/3 complex function, which is responsible for generating basolateral filamentous actin in ADM. Thus, the role of Arp2/3 complex fills up the missing gap between putative oncogenic signals and actin dynamics underlying PDAC initiation.
Project description:To investigate the role of SHP2 (Ptpn11) in pancreatic carcinogenesis, murine pancreatic whole tissue RNA samples of 9 week old mice with the genotypes Ptf1a-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D (ID-labels Kxxx) and Ptf1a-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D;Ptpn11fl/fl (ID-labels Mxxxx) were analyzed by microarray.
Project description:TMT-based quantitative mass spectrometry analysis was performed on ECM-enriched preparation from normal murine lung, bleomycin-induced fibrotic lung, primary tumors and lymph node metastasis isolated from the KrasG12D/+p53-/- mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma. Three independent samples were processed and analyzed for each condition. This study identified ECM signatures of normal and diseased lung tissue.
Project description:Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is an aggressive myeloid neoplasm of older individuals characterized by persistent monocytosis. Somatic mutations in CMML are heterogeneous and only partially explain the variability in clinical outcomes. Recent data suggest that cardiovascular morbidity is increased in CMML and contributes to reduced survival. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the presence of mutated blood cells in hematologically normal individuals, is a precursor of age-related myeloid neoplasms and associated with increased cardiovascular risk. To isolate CMML-specific alterations from those related to aging, we performed RNA sequencing and DNA methylation profiling on purified monocytes from CMML patients and from age-matched (old) and young healthy controls. We found that the transcriptional signature of CMML monocytes is highly pro-inflammatory, with upregulation of multiple inflammatory pathways, including tumor necrosis factor, IL-6 and IL-17 signaling, while age per se does not significantly contribute to this pattern. We observed no consistent correlations between aberrant gene expression and CpG island methylation, suggesting that pro-inflammatory signaling in CMML monocytes is governed by multiple and complex regulatory mechanisms. We propose that pro-inflammatory monocytes may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity in CMML patients, and promote progression by selection of mutated cell clones. Our data raise questions whether asymptomatic CMML patients may benefit from monocyte-depleting or anti-inflammatory therapies.
Project description:Primary murine pancreatic cancer cells (referred to as NKC cells) derived from transgenic mice with pancreas-specific constitutive activation of NFATc1 and KrasG12D mutation in the presence or absence of NFATc1 expression were analyzed for target gene signatures.
Project description:Sexual dimorphisms are well recognized in various cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). MI develops later in women, but once established, it contributes more persistent symptoms and higher mortality than in men. Similar observations have been reported in murine model of MI. Although mRNA-level sexual dimorphism of MI have been reported, whether miRNA transcriptome also confers such dimorphism remains unknown. Comprehensive understanding of the mRNA- and miRNA-level genetic programs underlying the heart sexual dimorphisms will expectedly improve clinical outcome by facilitating the development of gender specific treatment strategies. Here, by conducting miRNA microarray analysis of murine MI model samples, we set out to characterize the heart sexual dimorphisms at the level of miRNA transcriptome
Project description:Mouse models of chronic myeloid malignancies suggest that targeting mature cells of the malignant clone disrupts feedback loops that promote disease expansion. Here, we show that, in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), monocytes that accumulate in the peripheral blood show a decreased propensity to die by apoptosis. BH3 profiling demonstrates their addiction to MCL1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1), which can be targeted with the small molecule inhibitor S63845. RNA sequencing and DNA methylation pattern analysis both point also to the implication of the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway in the resistance of CMML monocytes to death and reveal an autocrine pathway in which the secreted cytokine CYTL1 (Cytokine-like protein 1) promotes ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) activation through CCR2 (C-C chemokine receptor type 2). Combined MAPK and MCL1 inhibition restores apoptosis of CMML patient monocytes and reduces the expansion of patient-derived xenografts in mice. These results designate the combined inhibition of MCL1 and MAPK as a promising approach to slow down CMML progression by inducing leukemic monocyte apoptosis.
Project description:Mouse models of chronic myeloid malignancies suggest that targeting mature cells of the malignant clone disrupts feedback loops that promote disease expansion. Here, we show that, in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), monocytes that accumulate in the peripheral blood show a decreased propensity to die by apoptosis. BH3 profiling demonstrates their addiction to MCL1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1), which can be targeted with the small molecule inhibitor S63845. RNA sequencing and DNA methylation pattern analysis both point also to the implication of the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway in the resistance of CMML monocytes to death and reveal an autocrine pathway in which the secreted cytokine CYTL1 (Cytokine-like protein 1) promotes ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) activation through CCR2 (C-C chemokine receptor type 2). Combined MAPK and MCL1 inhibition restores apoptosis of CMML patient monocytes and reduces the expansion of patient-derived xenografts in mice. These results designate the combined inhibition of MCL1 and MAPK as a promising approach to slow down CMML progression by inducing leukemic monocyte apoptosis.
Project description:Sexual dimorphisms are well recognized in various cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI). MI develops later in women, but once established, it contributes more persistent symptoms and higher mortality than in men. Similar observations have been reported in murine model of MI. Although mRNA-level sexual dimorphism of MI have been reported, whether miRNA transcriptome also confers such dimorphism remains unknown. Comprehensive understanding of the mRNA- and miRNA-level genetic programs underlying the heart sexual dimorphisms will expectedly improve clinical outcome by facilitating the development of gender specific treatment strategies. Here, by conducting miRNA microarray analysis of murine MI model samples, we set out to characterize the heart sexual dimorphisms at the level of miRNA transcriptome The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery of mice aged 10 weeks was surgically ligated to create extensive MI. The ventricular septum of the areas at risk of ischemia was sampled on post-operative day 28. Total RNA was extracted using Sepasol solution (Sepasol-RNA I super G, nakalai tesque, Japan), and microarray analysis was performed using Affymetrix GeneChip® miRNA 3.0 Arrays