Project description:Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are precursors of metastasis in several cancer types, and are occasionally found within the bloodstream in association with non-malignant cells such as white blood cells (WBCs). The identity and function of these CTC-associated WBCs, as well as the molecular features that define the interaction between WBCs and CTCs are unknown. Here, we achieve the isolation and interrogation of individual CTC-associated WBCs, alongside with corresponding cancer cells within each CTC-WBC-cluster, from multiple breast cancer patients and mouse models.
Project description:Mycophenolic acid (MPA), an immunosuppressive drug widely used in kidney transplantation, has been suggested to have anti-fibrotic effects. To analyze at a genomic level these effects, we prospectively studied a group of stable kidney transplant recipients (n=35) on cyclosporine (CyA) and azathioprine treatment. Twenty patients were converted from azathioprine to MPA (MPA group) and 15 patients continued on azathioprine (AZA group). RNA was extracted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and 3 months thereafter. Genomic analysis, performed on 5 randomly-selected MPA patients, revealed that 17 genes discriminated the transcriptomic profile after conversion. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an enzyme degrading angiotensin-II, was the most significant up-regulated gene. NEP expression level was inversely correlated to proteinuria at baseline and after conversion. Immunohistochemistry on graft biopsy of 33 independent patients demonstrated higher glomerular and tubular NEP protein expression in CyA+MPA (n=13) compared to CyA+AZA (n=12) and CyA alone (n=8). Glomerular NEP levels were inversely correlated to proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. Tubular NEP expression was inversely correlated to interstitial fibrosis. Incubation of proximal tubular cells with MPA led to a dose- and time-dependent increase of NEP gene expression. The direct influence of MPA on NEP expression may suggest a novel therapeutic effect of this drug.
Project description:ANCA associated vasculitis(AAV) is a systemic vasculitis of small vessels, characterzied by injury of vascular endothelial cells induced by abnormally activated neutrophils. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a member of AAV with a high risk of kidney involvement. Blood lipid disorder promotes endothelial injury. We aim to investigate the correlation between blood lipid levels and renal prognosis in MPA patients. Firstly, we retrospectively included 110 patients diagnosed with MPA and the primary endpoint was the occurrence of ESRD. The association between blood lipids and renal outcome was evaluated with logistic regression analysis and survival analysis. During a median follow-up period of 23 months, 44 out of 110 patients (40%) developed ESRD. High serum triglycerides (TG) and VLDL at diagnosis were associated with ESRD development after adjusting for several confounding factors. MPA patients with TG >1.45 mmol/L or VLDL > 0.66mmol/L had significantly higher risk of ESRD development than those with TG ≤1.45 mmol/L or VLDL ≤0.66 mmol/L. Secondly, we explored the underlying mechanism of poor renal prognosis in patients with high TG levels using data independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics. DIA quantitative proteomics analysis suggested that patients in high TG group had up-regulated profibrotic pathway, inflammatory signaling pathways and complement and coagulation cascades compared with those in low TG group. In conclusion, high baseline TG or VLDL is associated with an increased risk of ESRD development in MPA patients. The potential mechanisms may be the upregulation of pro-fibrotic and inflammatory signaling pathways, and the activation of complement and coagulation cascades.
2025-01-06 | PXD045969 | Pride
Project description:single cell analysis of PBMCs, WBCs and CSF cells from Behcet's disease patients
Project description:Mycophenolic acid (MPA), an immunosuppressive drug widely used in kidney transplantation, has been suggested to have anti-fibrotic effects. To analyze at a genomic level these effects, we prospectively studied a group of stable kidney transplant recipients (n=35) on cyclosporine (CyA) and azathioprine treatment. Twenty patients were converted from azathioprine to MPA (MPA group) and 15 patients continued on azathioprine (AZA group). RNA was extracted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and 3 months thereafter. Genomic analysis, performed on 5 randomly-selected MPA patients, revealed that 17 genes discriminated the transcriptomic profile after conversion. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an enzyme degrading angiotensin-II, was the most significant up-regulated gene. NEP expression level was inversely correlated to proteinuria at baseline and after conversion. Immunohistochemistry on graft biopsy of 33 independent patients demonstrated higher glomerular and tubular NEP protein expression in CyA+MPA (n=13) compared to CyA+AZA (n=12) and CyA alone (n=8). Glomerular NEP levels were inversely correlated to proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. Tubular NEP expression was inversely correlated to interstitial fibrosis. Incubation of proximal tubular cells with MPA led to a dose- and time-dependent increase of NEP gene expression. The direct influence of MPA on NEP expression may suggest a novel therapeutic effect of this drug. For microarray analysis, we studied 5 randomly selected patients included in the training group. Patients included in this group were, at the time of enrollment (T0), on standard maintenance immunosuppression with Cyclosporine (Neoral, Novartis, Basel, mean±SD of daily dose: 160.1±37.1mg), prednisone (5 mg daily) and Azathioprine (50 mg daily). Twenty patients, at T0, were switched from Azathioprine to EC-MPS (Myfortic, Novartis, Basel, 720 mg bid) for their need of allopurinol therapy (EC-MPS group). However, to avoid confounding factors, allopurinol treatment did not start until the end of our study (3 months). For the microarray analysis, we randomly selected 5 patients from the EC-MPS group. PBMC both at T0 and at T1 (3 months after the switching of the therapy) were immediately isolated from 20 ml of whole blood by Ficoll–Hypaque (Flow Laboratories, Irvine, UK) density gradient centrifugation. Total RNA was extracted by RNeasy mini kit (QIAGEN Inc., Valencia, CA) according the manufacturer’s instructions. Total RNA was processed and hybridized to the Affymetrix GeneChips Human Genome U133 Array Set HG-U133A (Affymetrix)(Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA)
Project description:For further validation that the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) patients were indeed cancer cells rather than non-specific contaminated cells such as white blood cells (WBCs), we examined the copy number alterations (CNAs) of the captured CTCs by aCGH (array comparative genomic hybridization).
Project description:Mycophenolic acid (MPA), effectively promoted ES cell pancreatic differentiation with a concomitant reduction of neuronal cells. The targets of MPA were investigated by microarray analysis of cells treated on day 5 with MPA and harvested on day 6 and 8.
Project description:Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a potent inhibitor of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase and commonly used as an immunosuppressive drug in transplantation. MPA inhibits proliferation of both T- and B-lymphocytes by guansoin depletion. Since fibroblasts rely on the de novo synthesis of guanosin nucleotides, it is assumed that MPA interacts with fibroblasts causing an increased frequency of wound healing problems. We show a downregulation of the cytoskeletal proteins actin, vinculin and tubulin in human dermal fibroblasts exposed to pharmacologic doses of MPA using microarray technology and western blot. This reduction in protein content is accompanied by a substantial derangement of the cytoskeleton in MPA-treated fibroblasts as documented by confocal microscopy. The dysfunctional fibroblast growth was validated by scratch test documenting impaired migrational capacity. The results of the cultured dermal fibroblasts were applied to skin biopsies of renal transplant recipients. Skin biopsies of patients treated with MPA expressed less tubulin and actin as compared to control biopsies which could explain potential wound healing problems post transplantation. The perspective of MPA-induced cytoskeletal dysfunction may go beyond wound healing disturbances and has potential beneficial effects on (renal) allografts with respect to scarring. Keywords: Timecourse and MPA and/or Guanosin response
Project description:Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) is the active component of the immunosuppressant Mycophenolate Mofetil, a potent inhibitor of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. Direct effects of MPA on podocytes remain largely unknown. In order to elucidate genes and pathways affected by the drug, cultured murine podocytes exposed to MPA were subjected to RNA sequencing (RNASeq) analysis. Untreated samples served as controls. The RNASeq of MPA treated podocytes identified 351 significantly affected genes (padj < 0.05; 130 downregulated / 221 upregulated). Gene Ontology-Term enrichment analysis outlined two major groups of terms of particular interest, namely actin associated terms and terms related to inflammatory cell death. In conclusion, MPA treatment has a substantial effect on the transcriptome of podocytes. Analysis of the sequencing data revealed several non-immune cell dependent areas in which MPA possibly has a favorable effect on podocytes.