Project description:Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is a common abnormality of the septal cartilage often associated with disordered breathing. The etiology of NSD is unknown. BMP7 neural crest-knockout mice, a well-characterized model for midfacial hypoplasia and nasal airway obstruction, develops a deviated septum by 4 weeks of age. Using comparative gene expression, quantitative proteomics, and immunofluorescence analysis we investigated the septum prior, immediately preceding, and with established deviation. We provide a detailed description of cellular and molecular changes leading to septum deviation, including changes to extracellular matrix organization, cell metabolism, and chondrocyte differentiation. Loss of BMP7 was associated with acquisition of elastic cartilage properties, a switch to glucose metabolism, and molecular characteristics commonly associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Many alterations preceded the deviation establishing that molecular changes to chondrocyte properties predispose to the deviation. Interestingly, NSD was associated with a persistent increase in BMP2. Genetic reduction of BMP2 in BMP7ncko mice restores WNT signalling, energy metabolism, and rescues NSD, showing the importance of balanced BMP signaling for normal cartilage. Many of the cellular and molecular changes have been described for knee osteoarthritis, suggesting that these two pathologies might have a similar underlying etiology.
Project description:The nasal capsule cartilage of Apert Fgfr2+/S252W mice increases in size compared to wildtype cartilage during embryonic craniofacial development. Increased levels of markers of cell proliferation can be detected in the Apert Fgfr2+/S252W anterior nasal septum cartilage compared to wildtype at E14.5. We have performed laser capture microdissection of this cartilage in these genotypes at this age to generate RNA-Seq libraries and compare gene expression. Expression analysis shows increased expression of genes related to chromosome condensation, nuclear division, and the cell cycle in Apert Fgfr2+/S252W anterior nasal septum cartilage compared to wildtype.
Project description:The nasal epithelium is an important target site for chemically-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity. Human epidemiological investigations and experimental laboratory animal studies show that the nasal olfactory epithelium is selectively damaged by inhalation exposure to several chemicals, including vinyl acetate and hydrogen sulfide. The reason for the relative sensitivity of the nasal olfactory epithelium is not known. To better understand and predict the response of the nasal epithelium to inhaled xenobiotics, gene expression profiles from naÑve male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were constructed. Epithelial cells were manually collected from the nasal septum, naso- and maxillo-turbinates, and ethmoid turbinates of 9 male and 9 female rats. Gene expression analysis was performed using the Affymetrix Rat Genome 430 2.0 microarray. Gene ontology enrichment analysis identified several functional categories including xenobiotic metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, and ion channel/transport with significantly different expression between tissue types. Surprisingly, there were few gender differences in gene expression. This baseline data will contribute to our understanding of the normal physiology and selectivity of the nasal epithelial cellsâ response to inhaled environmental toxicants. Experiment Overall Design: To better understand and predict the response of the nasal epithelium to inhaled xenobiotics, gene expression profiles from naÑve male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were constructed. Epithelial cells were manually collected from the nasal septum, naso- and maxillo-turbinates, and ethmoid turbinates of 9 male and 9 female rats. Gene expression analysis was performed using the Affymetrix Rat Genome 430 2.0 microarray.
Project description:The nasal epithelium is an important target site for chemically-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity. Human epidemiological investigations and experimental laboratory animal studies show that the nasal olfactory epithelium is selectively damaged by inhalation exposure to several chemicals, including vinyl acetate and hydrogen sulfide. The reason for the relative sensitivity of the nasal olfactory epithelium is not known. To better understand and predict the response of the nasal epithelium to inhaled xenobiotics, gene expression profiles from naїve male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were constructed. Epithelial cells were manually collected from the nasal septum, naso- and maxillo-turbinates, and ethmoid turbinates of 9 male and 9 female rats. Gene expression analysis was performed using the Affymetrix Rat Genome 430 2.0 microarray. Gene ontology enrichment analysis identified several functional categories including xenobiotic metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, and ion channel/transport with significantly different expression between tissue types. Surprisingly, there were few gender differences in gene expression. This baseline data will contribute to our understanding of the normal physiology and selectivity of the nasal epithelial cells’ response to inhaled environmental toxicants. Keywords: Comparative
Project description:Basal-like breast cancer generally shows a good response to conventional cytotoxic but rapidly develops a resistant phenotype. To better understand the epigenetic changes underlying the acquisition of resistant properties, we treated the murine basal-like mammary carcinoma cell line G-2 for 48 hours with sublethal combination chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, 5-Fluorouracil) and subsequently subjected them to RNA- and ChIP-sequencing.
Project description:The nasal epithelium represents the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens, allergens, and irritants and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a spectrum of acute and chronic airways diseases. Despite age-dependent clinical phenotypes triggered by these noxious stimuli, little is known about how ageing affects the structure and function of the airway epithelium that is crucial for lung homeostasis and host defense. The aim of this study was therefore to determine age-related differences in structural and functional properties of primary nasal epithelial cultures from healthy children and non-smoking elderly people. To achieve this goal, highly differentiated nasal epithelial cultures were established from nasal brushes at air-liquid-interface and used to study epithelial cell type composition, mucin (MUC5AC and MUC5B) expression and ion transport properties. Further, we determined age-dependent molecular signatures using global proteomic analysis. We found lower numeric densities of ciliated cells and higher levels of MUC5AC expression in cultures from children vs. elderly people. Bioelectric studies showed no differences in basal ion transport properties, ENaC-mediated sodium absorption or CFTR-mediated chloride transport, but detected decreased calcium-activated TMEM16A-mediated chloride secretory responses in cultures from children vs. elderly people. Proteome analysis identified distinct age-dependent molecular signatures associated with ciliation and mucin biosynthesis, as well as other pathways implicated in ageing. Our data identified intrinsic, age-related differences in structure and function of the nasal epithelium and provide a basis for further studies on the role of these findings in age-dependent airways disease phenotypes observed with a spectrum of respiratory infections and other noxious stimuli.
Project description:Female and male C57BL/6J mice were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, USA) at 16 weeks age. Mice were intranasal infected with a sublethal does of 7.5×104 EID50 A/Puerto Rico/8/34 influenza virus (PR8; Charles River, Wilmington, MA, USA) or mock infected (naïve) with 1X PBS. After euthanasia at 7 days post infection lung and nasal septum were collected from animals to perform transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing.
Project description:The biological impact of an aerosol of a potential modified-risk tobacco product, carbon heated tobacco product 1.2 (CHTP1.2), was comprehensively assessed for the first time in vitro using human small airway and nasal epithelial models following a systems toxicology approach. The potentially reduced effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure were benchmarked against those of 3R4F cigarette smoke at similar nicotine concentrations. Experimental repetitions were conducted for which new batches of small airway and nasal cultures were exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol or 3R4F smoke for 28 minutes. The biological impacts were determined based on a collection of endpoints including morphology, cytotoxicity, proinflammatory mediator profiles, cytochrome P450 1A1/1B1 activity, global mRNA and microRNA changes and proteome profiles. Alterations in mRNA expression were detected in cultures exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol, without noticeable morphological changes and cytotoxicity, and minimal impact on proinflammatory mediator and proteome profiles. The changes linked to CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure, when observed, were transient. However, the impact of 3R4F smoke exposure persisted long post-exposure and greater than CHTP1.2 aerosol. Morphological changes were observed only in cultures exposed to 3R4F smoke. The lower biological effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol than 3R4F smoke exposure were observed similarly in both small airway and nasal epithelial cultures.
Project description:The biological impact of an aerosol of a potential modified-risk tobacco product, carbon heated tobacco product 1.2 (CHTP1.2), was comprehensively assessed for the first time in vitro using human small airway and nasal epithelial models following a systems toxicology approach. The potentially reduced effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure were benchmarked against those of 3R4F cigarette smoke at similar nicotine concentrations. Experimental repetitions were conducted for which new batches of small airway and nasal cultures were exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol or 3R4F smoke for 28 minutes. The biological impacts were determined based on a collection of endpoints including morphology, cytotoxicity, proinflammatory mediator profiles, cytochrome P450 1A1/1B1 activity, global mRNA and microRNA changes and proteome profiles. Alterations in mRNA expression were detected in cultures exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol, without noticeable morphological changes and cytotoxicity, and minimal impact on proinflammatory mediator and proteome profiles. The changes linked to CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure, when observed, were transient. However, the impact of 3R4F smoke exposure persisted long post-exposure and greater than CHTP1.2 aerosol. Morphological changes were observed only in cultures exposed to 3R4F smoke. The lower biological effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol than 3R4F smoke exposure were observed similarly in both small airway and nasal epithelial cultures.
Project description:The biological impact of an aerosol of a potential modified-risk tobacco product, carbon heated tobacco product 1.2 (CHTP1.2), was comprehensively assessed for the first time in vitro using human small airway and nasal epithelial models following a systems toxicology approach. The potentially reduced effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure were benchmarked against those of 3R4F cigarette smoke at similar nicotine concentrations. Experimental repetitions were conducted for which new batches of small airway and nasal cultures were exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol or 3R4F smoke for 28 minutes. The biological impacts were determined based on a collection of endpoints including morphology, cytotoxicity, proinflammatory mediator profiles, cytochrome P450 1A1/1B1 activity, global mRNA and microRNA changes and proteome profiles. Alterations in mRNA expression were detected in cultures exposed to CHTP1.2 aerosol, without noticeable morphological changes and cytotoxicity, and minimal impact on proinflammatory mediator and proteome profiles. The changes linked to CHTP1.2 aerosol exposure, when observed, were transient. However, the impact of 3R4F smoke exposure persisted long post-exposure and greater than CHTP1.2 aerosol. Morphological changes were observed only in cultures exposed to 3R4F smoke. The lower biological effects of CHTP1.2 aerosol than 3R4F smoke exposure were observed similarly in both small airway and nasal epithelial cultures.