Project description:Living organisms are intricate systems with dynamic internal processes. Their RNA, protein, and metabolite levels fluctuate in response to variations in health and environmental conditions. Among these, RNA expression is particularly accessible for comprehensive analysis, thanks to the evolution of high throughput sequencing technologies in recent years. This progress has enabled researchers to identify unique RNA patterns associated with various diseases, as well as to develop predictive and prognostic biomarkers for therapy response. Such cross-sectional studies allow for the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups, but they have limitations. Specifically, they often fail to capture the temporal changes in gene expression following individual perturbations and may lead to significant false discoveries due to inherent noise in RNA sequencing sample preparation and data collection. To address these challenges, our study hypothesized that frequent, longitudinal RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis of blood samples could offer a more profound understanding of the temporal dynamics of gene expression in response to drug interventions, while also enhancing the accuracy of identifying genes influenced by these drugs. In this research, we conducted RNAseq on 829 blood samples collected from 84 Sprague-Dawley lab rats. Excluding the control group, each rat was administered one of four different compounds known for liver toxicity: tetracycline, isoniazid, valproate, and carbon tetrachloride. We developed specialized bioinformatics tools to pinpoint genes that exhibit temporal variation in response to these treatments.
Project description:Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has revealed the long-term side effects of chemotherapeutics, particularly cardiotoxicity. Current clinical measures to track cardiotoxicity are insufficient to diagnose damage before it has been done, necessitating new, early biomarkers of cardiotoxicity. Here, we collected paired transcriptomics and metabolomics data characterizing in vitro cardiotoxicity to three compounds: 5-fluorouracil, acetaminophen, and doxorubicin. Standard gene enrichment and metabolomics approaches identify some commonly affected pathways and metabolites but are not able to readily identify mechanisms of cardiotoxicity. Here, we integrate this paired data with a genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction (GENRE) of the heart to identify shifted metabolic functions, unique metabolic reactions, and changes in flux in metabolic reactions in response to these compounds. Using this approach, we are able to confirm known mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and provide hypotheses for mechanisms of cardiotoxicity for 5-fluorouracil and acetaminophen.
Project description:The FDA approved drug Doxorubicin provokes copious irreversible cardiotoxicity and even increases the risk of heart failure. Considering the multiple and interacted molecular pathways in cancer, there is a big possibility that tumors are simultaneously sensitive to different drugs. This makes achievable to study the combinations of drug, having the virtues of less toxicity, higher efficacy and potentially antagonizing drug resistance in cancer therapy. In the present study, we addressed the synergistic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on doxorubicin-treated breast cancer bearing mice. We showed that Rh2 significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of doxorubicin and greatly attenuated the cardiotoxicity. Transcriptomic changes can clearly distinguish the chemotherapeutic groups and non-treated control groups. Transcriptomic analysis domestrated that Rh2 protection involved in multiple vital pathways including cellular senescece, fibrosis remodeling, apoptosis and inflammation.
Project description:The FDA approved drug Doxorubicin provokes copious irreversible cardiotoxicity and even increases the risk of heart failure. Considering the multiple and interacted molecular pathways in cancer, there is a big possibility that tumors are simultaneously sensitive to different drugs. This makes achievable to study the combinations of drug, having the virtues of less toxicity, higher efficacy and potentially antagonizing drug resistance in cancer therapy. In the present study, we addressed the synergistic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on doxorubicin-treated breast cancer bearing mice. We showed that Rh2 significantly enhanced the anti-cancer effects of doxorubicin and greatly attenuated the cardiotoxicity. Transcriptomic changes can clearly distinguish the chemotherapeutic groups and non-treated control groups. Transcriptomic analysis domestrated that Rh2 protection involved in multiple vital pathways including cellular stress, apoptosis and inflammation.
Project description:The Norway rat has important impacts on our life. They are amongst the most used research subjects, resulting in ground-breaking advances. At the same time, wild rats live in close association with us, leading to various adverse interactions. In face of this relevance, it is surprising how little is known about their natural behaviour. While recent laboratory studies revealed their complex social skills, little is known about their social behaviour in the wild. An integration of these different scientific approaches is crucial to understand their social life, which will enable us to design more valid research paradigms, develop more effective management strategies, and to provide better welfare standards. Hence, I first summarise the literature on their natural social behaviour. Second, I provide an overview of recent developments concerning their social cognition. Third, I illustrate why an integration of these areas would be beneficial to optimise our interactions with them.