Project description:Genome-wide expression studies were performed on dermal fibroblasts from Sotos syndrome patients with a confirmed NSD1 abnormality and compared with age-sex matched controls. We used microarrays to detect differentially expressed genes in Sotos syndrome patients and performed a global test with the aim to map NSD1 within a signaling transduction pathway. Dermal fibroblasts were obtained from nine Sotos syndrome patients and nine controls. Since NSD1 is a co-factor of the retinoic acid receptor, cultures were performed both in the presence and absence of retinoic acid.
Project description:Genome-wide expression studies were performed on dermal fibroblasts from Sotos syndrome patients with a confirmed NSD1 abnormality and compared with age-sex matched controls. We used microarrays to detect differentially expressed genes in Sotos syndrome patients and performed a global test with the aim to map NSD1 within a signaling transduction pathway.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:In this study, we characterize the fusion protein produced by the EPC1-PHF1 translocation in Low Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS) and Ossifying FibroMyxoid Tumors (OFMT). We express the fusion protein and necessary controls in K562 Cells. The fusion protein assembles a mega-complex harboring both NuA4/TIP60 and PRC2 subunits and enzymatic activities and leads to mislocalization of chromatin marks in the genome, linked to aberrant gene expression.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a systemic disorder that manifests as a fluffy, proteinaceous fibrillar material throughout the body. In the eye, such deposits result in glaucoma (PEXG), due to impeding aqueous humor outflow. When a patient presents acute glaucoma, it is necessary to remove some of the aqueous fluid within the eye to relief pain and pressure. This label free proteomics dataset was collected from human donors during cataract surgery. The aqueous humor was collected during essential ophthalmic procedures that allowed paracentesis after obtaining informed consents from human subjects without collecting identifiers, but all disease and medication history were collected. The sample collection included non-glaucomatous controls (CTL-GC), those with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX-GC), and synthesized GC-Globulin pure protein (GC-Pure). Approximately 50-120 ul volume of AH was collected by paracentesis and stored in -80C immediately upon acquisition until analysis. Protein extraction was carried out by homogenization of the tissue in extraction buffer (TEAB, NaCl and SDS). Protein amounts were estimated and normalized to 10 ug across experimental samples. Samples were reduced using TCEP, alkylated with iodoacetamide and digested overnight with trypsin. Untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed on an Easy nLC 1000 liquid chromatograph coupled to a QExactive mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). Data analysis was performed using Proteome Discoverer 3.0 and Graph Pad Prism 10. Each sample was run three separate times.
Raw mass spectrometry data files were analyzed using Proteome Discoverer 3.0. The human proteome was downloaded from UniProt and used as the target database for protein identification. Max missed cleavage site was set to 2 and minimum peptide length to 6. Precursor Mass Tolerance was set to 10ppm and Fragment Mass Tolerance to 0.02 Da. Post-translational modifications for experimental proteins included oxidation, acetylation, and carbamidomethylation. The normalization was set to total peptide amount and confidence to low.