Project description:Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease characterized by the accumulation of eponymous CD1a+ Langerin+ Langerhans-cell (LC)-like dendritic cells (DC) of largely unknown origin. Here we have performed comparative transcriptome analysis of highly purified CD207+/CD1a+ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) cells derived from different locations and disease courses and three major human dendritic cell lineages: epidermal Langerhans cells, myeloid dendritic cells (mDC1) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in order to investigate the relationship between LCH cells and naturally occurring dendritic cells. Data obtained indicate that LCH cells form a distinct DC entity. Furthermore, we have identified transcripts that are uniquely expressed by LCH cells in comparison to LC, mDC1, and pDC, and induce LCH-specific features in human DC. Primary cells were isolated from peripheral blood (mDC1 and pDC), skin (epidermal Langerhans cells) and CD207+/CD1a+ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) cells derived from different locations. RNA was isolated from these cells ex vivo.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
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:To identify genes with a potential role in Langerhans dendritic cell differentiation, progenitor cells from human cord blood were analyzed by Affymetrix GeneChip U133Plus 2.0 microarray profiling
