Project description:Background: Androgen signalling through the androgen receptor (AR) is crucial for male genital development. Disruptions in this pathway are associated with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), which is typically caused by mutations in the AR gene, although the underlying genetic mechanisms remain unknown in many cases. To better understand androgen-dependent transcriptional changes in human genital tissue, we performed transcriptomic profiling of foreskin- and scrotum-derived human genital skin fibroblasts (GSFs) treated with dihydrotestosterone. Results: Differential gene expression analysis revealed 409 and 260 reproducibly up-regulated genes in foreskin- and scrotum-derived GSFs, respectively. GSFs from individuals with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, carrying inactivating mutations in the AR gene, showed no reproducible androgen response. Androgen response element motif scanning confirmed direct AR binding in key up-regulated genes, including AOX1, APOD, FKBP5, and FAM107A. Gene ontology analysis revealed enrichment in pathways related to neuronal, muscle, cardiovascular, and sex development. Conclusion: Identifying new AR target genes broadens the current understanding of androgen signalling and aids in better understanding the etiology of AIS, and other androgen-related conditions.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE3871: Effects of androgen treatment on genital fibroblasts GSE3872: Baseline gene transcription in genital fibroblasts Abstract: BACKGROUND: Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) comprises a range of phenotypes from male infertility to complete feminization. Most individuals with AIS carry germline mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) that interfere with or ablate its function. As genital fibroblasts retain expression of the AR in vitro, we used genital skin fibroblasts from normal males and 46,XY females with complete AIS due to known AR mutations to gain insights into the role of the AR in human genital differentiation. RESULTS: Using DNA microarrays representing 32,968 different genes, we identified 404 transcripts with significant differences in transcription levels between genital skin fibroblasts cultured from normal and AIS-affected individuals. Gene-cluster analyses uncovered coordinated expression of genes involved in key processes of morphogenesis. On the basis of animal studies and human genetic syndromes, several of these genes are known to have specific roles in genital differentiation. Remarkably, genital fibroblasts from both normal and AIS-affected individuals showed no transcriptional response to dihydrotestosterone treatment despite expression of the AR. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that in addition to differences in the anatomic origin of the cells, androgen signaling during prenatal development contributes to setting long-lasting, androgen-independent transcriptional programs in genital fibroblasts. Our findings have broad implications in understanding the establishment and the stability of sexual dimorphism in human genital development. Refer to individual Series
Project description:Abstract: BACKGROUND: Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) comprises a range of phenotypes from male infertility to complete feminization. Most individuals with AIS carry germline mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) that interfere with or ablate its function. As genital fibroblasts retain expression of the AR in vitro, we used genital skin fibroblasts from normal males and 46,XY females with complete AIS due to known AR mutations to gain insights into the role of the AR in human genital differentiation. RESULTS: Using DNA microarrays representing 32,968 different genes, we identified 404 transcripts with significant differences in transcription levels between genital skin fibroblasts cultured from normal and AIS-affected individuals. Gene-cluster analyses uncovered coordinated expression of genes involved in key processes of morphogenesis. On the basis of animal studies and human genetic syndromes, several of these genes are known to have specific roles in genital differentiation. Remarkably, genital fibroblasts from both normal and AIS-affected individuals showed no transcriptional response to dihydrotestosterone treatment despite expression of the AR. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that in addition to differences in the anatomic origin of the cells, androgen signaling during prenatal development contributes to setting long-lasting, androgen-independent transcriptional programs in genital fibroblasts. Our findings have broad implications in understanding the establishment and the stability of sexual dimorphism in human genital development. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:To investigate the mechanisms of drug resistance and castration resistance in prostate cancer, we performed proteomic sequencing on androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) and androgen-independent cells (AI) treated with enzalutamide.
Project description:To gain insights into the role of androgen in genital morphogenesis, we compared basal transcriptional patterns in genital fibroblasts from 46,XY individuals with either wild-type AR or germline inactivation of the AR as a result of mutation. A disease state experiment design type is where the state of some disease such as infection, pathology, syndrome, etc is studied. Computed
Project description:To gain insights into the role of androgen in genital morphogenesis, we compared basal transcriptional patterns in genital fibroblasts from 46,XY individuals with either wild-type AR or germline inactivation of the AR as a result of mutation. A disease state experiment design type is where the state of some disease such as infection, pathology, syndrome, etc is studied. Keywords: disease_state_design
Project description:Comparison of two Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells that are dependent on iNOS to terminate Chlamydia replication in epithelial cells to two Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells that are iNOS-independent: Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars replicate predominately in epithelial cells lining the reproductive tract. This tissue tropism poses a unique challenge for the host immune system and vaccine development. Studies utilizing the Chlamydia muridarum mouse model have shown that CD4 T cells are critical and sufficient to clear primary genital tract infections. In vitro studies have shown that CD4 T cells terminate the infection in epithelial cells by up regulating epithelial iNOS transcription and nitric oxide production via IFN-gamma and T cell-epithelial cell interactions mediated by LFA-1-ICAM-1. This mechanism however is not critical as iNOS-deficient mice clear infections normally, and IFN-gamma deficient mice clear 99.9% of the infection with near normal kinetics. We recently showed that a subset of Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cell clones were able to terminate replication in epithelial cells using a mechanism that was independent of iNOS and IFN-gamma. That mechanism did not require physical lysis of infected cells, but instead required T cell degranulation. In this study we advanced that work using gene expression microarrays to compare CD4 T cell clones that are able to terminate epithelial replication via an iNOS-independent mechanism to iNOS-dependent CD4 T cell clones. Micro array experiments showed that Plac8 was differentially expressed by the T cell clones having the iNOS-independent mechanism. Plac8-deficient mice had significantly delayed clearance of C. muridarum genital tract infections, and that the large majority of Plac8-deficient mice treated with the iNOS-inhibitor N-monomethyl-L-arginine (MLA) were unable to resolve a C. muridarum genital tract infection over 8 weeks. These results demonstrate that there are two independent and redundant T cell mechanisms for clearing C. muridarum genital tract infections; one mechanism dependent on iNOS, the other mechanism dependent on Plac8. While T cells subsets have been defined by cytokine profiles, there are important subdivisions by effector functions, in this case CD4Plac8. Gene expression study using 4 experimental groups with 4 replicates each.
Project description:This gene set contains skin fibroblasts from either labia majora of 46,XY sex reversed females having complete androgen insensitivity syndrome due to inactivation mutations of the androgen receptor gene and from the scrotum of normal males. Both, labia majora and scrotum origin from the same embryological anlagen, the labioscrotal swellings. The phenotypic difference is due to androgen dependent virilization in males. This is not possible in 46,XY patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome because the androgen receptor pathway is knocked out. A cell type comparison design experiment design type compares cells of different type for example different cell lines. Cell Line: genital skin fibroblasts from different locations mutant line: normal 46,XY male and 46,XY sex reversed female due to inactivating mutations of the androgen receptor gene Computed
Project description:Comparison of two Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells that are dependent on iNOS to terminate Chlamydia replication in epithelial cells to two Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells that are iNOS-independent: Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars replicate predominately in epithelial cells lining the reproductive tract. This tissue tropism poses a unique challenge for the host immune system and vaccine development. Studies utilizing the Chlamydia muridarum mouse model have shown that CD4 T cells are critical and sufficient to clear primary genital tract infections. In vitro studies have shown that CD4 T cells terminate the infection in epithelial cells by up regulating epithelial iNOS transcription and nitric oxide production via IFN-gamma and T cell-epithelial cell interactions mediated by LFA-1-ICAM-1. This mechanism however is not critical as iNOS-deficient mice clear infections normally, and IFN-gamma deficient mice clear 99.9% of the infection with near normal kinetics. We recently showed that a subset of Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cell clones were able to terminate replication in epithelial cells using a mechanism that was independent of iNOS and IFN-gamma. That mechanism did not require physical lysis of infected cells, but instead required T cell degranulation. In this study we advanced that work using gene expression microarrays to compare CD4 T cell clones that are able to terminate epithelial replication via an iNOS-independent mechanism to iNOS-dependent CD4 T cell clones. Micro array experiments showed that Plac8 was differentially expressed by the T cell clones having the iNOS-independent mechanism. Plac8-deficient mice had significantly delayed clearance of C. muridarum genital tract infections, and that the large majority of Plac8-deficient mice treated with the iNOS-inhibitor N-monomethyl-L-arginine (MLA) were unable to resolve a C. muridarum genital tract infection over 8 weeks. These results demonstrate that there are two independent and redundant T cell mechanisms for clearing C. muridarum genital tract infections; one mechanism dependent on iNOS, the other mechanism dependent on Plac8. While T cells subsets have been defined by cytokine profiles, there are important subdivisions by effector functions, in this case CD4Plac8.
Project description:e tested the responses of normal and AIS genital fibroblasts to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), under culture conditions similar to those that were reported to produce aromatase induction in these cells [8]. Cells were treated with DHT (100-1,000 nM) both at confluency (G0) and during exponential growth, and transcript levels were assessed using DNA microarrays. A compound treatment design type is where the response to administration of a compound or chemical (including biological compounds such as hormones) is assayed. Keywords: compound_treatment_design