Project description:This study aims to investigate differentially expressed proteins in tumor pericytes derived from colorectal cancer patients with or without liver metastasis. Tumor pericytes were isolated from tumor of colorectal cancer patients with or without liver metastasis. Then, tumor pericytes were cultured and subjected to proteomic analysis. TCAF2 was significantly increased in tumor pericytes from liver metastasis patients.
Project description:The islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a pancreas-produced peptide, has beneficial functions in its monomeric form. However, IAPP aggregates, related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are toxic not only for the pancreas, but also for the brain. In the latter, IAPP is often found in vessels, where it is highly toxic for pericytes, cells that have contractile properties and regulate capillary blood flow. The aim of this study is to assess whether IAPP oligomers alter the morphology and contractility of pericytes using an in vitro brain vasculature model and evaluate the association between IAPP and capillary contraction in human brain tissue.
Project description:We discover that THBS2 is a pivotal regulator negatively correlated with cellular senescence. To identify potential targets of THBS2 in fibroblasts, we performed label-free quantitative proteomic analysis.
Project description:The objective of this array was to determine the global gene expression profile of human placental pericytes for comparison with other publicly available arrays of pericytes and mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from various human tissues. Pericytes are critical cellular components of the microvasculature that play a major role in vascular development and pathologies, yet their study has been hindered by lack of a standardized method for their isolation and growth. Here we report a method for culturing human pericytes from a readily available tissue source, placenta, and provide a thorough characterization of resultant cell populations. We developed an optimized protocol for obtaining pericytes by outgrowth from microvessel fragments recovered after enzymatic digestion of human placental tissue. We characterized outgrowth populations by immunostaining, by gene expression analysis, and by functional evaluation of cells implanted in vivo. Our approach yields human pericytes that may be serially expanded in culture and that uniformly express the cellular markers NG2, CD90, CD146, α-SMA, and PDGFR-β, but lack markers of smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and leukocytes. When co-implanted with human endothelial cells into C.B-17 SCID/bg mice, human pericytes invest and stabilize developing human endothelial cell-lined microvessels. We conclude that our method for culturing pericytes from human placenta results in the expansion of functional pericytes that may be used to study a variety of questions related to vascular biology. Total RNA from three different pericyte isolations at subculture 1 was collected and examined for relative gene expression.
Project description:Direct conversion of pericytes (PCs) or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into induced oligodendrocytes (iOPCs) by ectopic expression of Olig2, Sox10 and Nkx6.2 was assessed by transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq). Samples were collected before and after direct conversion (for PCs at 3 different time points/passages - p5, p15 and p25)
Project description:Direct conversion of pericytes (PCs) into induced oligodendrocytes (iOPCs) by ectopic expression of Olig2 and Sox10 (2F) was assessed by chromatin accessibility profiling (by ATAC-seq). Samples were collected before and after direct conversion (at 3 different time points/passages - p5, p15 and p25).
Project description:Integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for brain homeostasis, and its malfunction contributes to neurovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. So far, mechanistic studies on BBB function have been mostly conducted in rodent and non-physiological in vitro models, which recapitulate some disease features, but have limited translatability to humans and pose challenges for drug discovery. Here we report on a fully human iPSC-derived, microfluidic 3D BBB model consisting of endothelial cells (EC), mural cells, and astrocytes. Our model expresses typical cell fate markers, forms a barrier in vessel-like tubes, and enables perfusion, including with human blood. We optimized iPSC differentiations and validated cellular fates by comparison to published datasets and extensive benchmarking vs. primary cells with proteomic profiles provided in an online database (https://dbNeuroVasP.isd-muc.de).
Project description:Background. Ageing is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Pericytes are capillary-associated mural cells involved in the maintenance and stability of the vascular network. In the heart, the consequences of ageing on cardiac pericytes are unknown. Methods. In this study, we have combined single nucleus RNA sequencing and histological analysis to determine the effects of ageing on cardiac pericytes. Furthermore, we have conducted in vivo and in vitro analysis of RGS5 loss of function and finally have perfomed pericytes-fibroblasts co-culture studies to understand the effect of RGS5 loss of function in pericytes on the neighbouring fibroblasts. Results. We showed that ageing reduces the pericyte area and coverage. Single nucleus RNA sequencing analysis further revealed that the expression of the Regulator of G protein signalling 5 (Rgs5) is reduced in old cardiac pericytes. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that the deletion of RGS5 induces morphological changes and a pro-fibrotic gene expression signature characterized by the expression of different extracellular matrix components and growth factors like TGFB2 and PDGFB in pericytes. Indeed, the culture of fibroblasts with the supernatant of RGS5 deficient pericytes induced their activation characterized by the increased expression of α smooth muscle actin in a TFGβ2 dependent mechanism. Conclusions. Our results identify RGS5 as a crucial regulator of pericyte function during cardiac ageing. The deletion of RGS5 causes cardiac dysfunction and induces myocardial fibrosis, one of the hallmarks of cardiac ageing.
Project description:We are investigating the role of pancreatic pericytes in regulating acute pancreatitis using a mouse model consisting of WT and TG mice. The TG mice harbour a selective deletion of the Myd88 gene in pancreatic pericytes. Mice were treated with Caerulein to induce acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic pericytes were FACS-sorted one day after Caerulein treatment. RNA-seq analysis aims to determine differences in gene expression among the three groups: non-tg untreated, non-tg treated, and tg treated.
Project description:To date there are very few tools to reverse the induced dedifferentiation program in CRPC and to improve the response to the androgen deprivation therapy. Here we report that MAT2A is an important oncogenic cofactor of ERG/EZH2 transcriptional reprogramming impacting significantly the androgenic pathway. Using RNA sequencing coupled with ATAC, here we reveal an important link between ERG/MAT2A and EZH2 that impact on AR signaling pathway. This aberrant epigenetic program can be reversed by MAT2A inhibition which establish a near physiologic AR transcriptional program. Targeting MAT2A alone or in combination with EZH2 inhibitors reverse stemness in multiple models including prostatospheres from human PDX and GEM models of aggressive prostate cancer. Targeting MAT2A enhance the sensitivity to the androgenic blockade by Enzalutamide and to EZH2 inhibitors