Project description:The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor hairy and enhancer of split (Hes3) is a member of the Hes/Hey gene family that regulates developmental processes in progenitor cells from various tissues. We demonstrated the Hes3 expression in mouse pancreatic tissue, suggesting it may have a role in modulating beta-cell function. We employed the mouse insulinoma cell line MIN6 to perform gene expression profiles in conditions known to modulate Hes3 based upon our previous work using neural stem cell cultures. In these conditions, cells showed elevated Hes3 expression and nuclear localization, grew efficiently and showed higher evoked insulin release responses, compared to serum-containing conditions. They also exhibited higher expression of the transcription factor Pdx1 and insulin. Microarrays of RNA isolated from quadruplicate samples of Min6 cells grown under three different culture conditions.
Project description:We previously isolated a subclone, MIN6 clone 4, from the parental MIN6 cells, that shows well-regulated insulin secretion in response to glucose, glybenclamide, and KCl, even after prolonged culture. To investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for preserving GSIS in this subclone, we compared four groups of MIN6 cells: Pr-LP (parental MIN6, low passage number), Pr-HP (parental MIN6, high passage number), C4-LP (MIN6 clone 4, low passage number), and C4-HP (MIN6 clone 4, high passage number). Based on their capacity for GSIS, we designated the Pr-LP, C4-LP, and C4-HP cells as M-bM-^@M-^\responder cells.M-bM-^@M-^] In a DNA microarray analysis, we identified a group of genes with high expression in responder cells (M-bM-^@M-^\responder genesM-bM-^@M-^]), but extremely low expression in the Pr-HP cells. MIN6 clone 4 cells are a subclone isolated from low-passage-number parental MIN6 cells by the limiting dilution method (JM, unpublished). This subclone was maintained in the same culture conditions as the parental cells, and retained good GSIS even after 6 months of continuous culture. For the low-passage-number parental MIN6 cells (Pr-LP), we used cells passaged 17-20 times; for the high-passage-number MIN6 cells (Pr-HP), we used cells passaged 35-40 times. Seventeen to 20 passages were also used for the low-passage-number MIN6 clone 4 cells (C4-LP), and the high-passage ones (C4-HP) were used after 40 to 50 passages.
Project description:The ketogenic diet has been successful in promoting weight loss among patients that have struggled with weight gain. This is due to the cellular switch in metabolism that utilizes liver-derived ketone bodies for the primary energy source rather than glucose. Fatty acid transport protein 2 (FATP2) is highly expressed in liver, small intestine, and kidney where it functions in both the transport of exogenous long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and in the activation to CoA thioesters of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA). We have completed a multi-omic study of FATP2-null (Fatp2-/-) mice maintained on a ketogenic diet (KD) or paired control diet (CD), with and without a 24-hour fast (KD-fasted and CD-fasted) to address the impact of deleting FATP2 under high-stress conditions. Control (wt/wt) and Fatp2-/- mice were maintained on their respective diets for 4-weeks. Afterwards, half the population was sacrificed while the remaining were fasted for 24-hours prior to sacrifice. We then performed paired-end RNA-sequencing on the whole liver tissue to investigate differential gene expression. The differentially expressed genes mapped to ontologies such as the metabolism of amino acids and derivatives, fatty acid metabolism, protein localization, and components of the immune system’s complement cascade, and were supported by the proteome and histological staining.
Project description:We previously isolated a subclone, MIN6 clone 4, from the parental MIN6 cells, that shows well-regulated insulin secretion in response to glucose, glybenclamide, and KCl, even after prolonged culture. To investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for preserving GSIS in this subclone, we compared four groups of MIN6 cells: Pr-LP (parental MIN6, low passage number), Pr-HP (parental MIN6, high passage number), C4-LP (MIN6 clone 4, low passage number), and C4-HP (MIN6 clone 4, high passage number). Based on their capacity for GSIS, we designated the Pr-LP, C4-LP, and C4-HP cells as “responder cells.” In a DNA microarray analysis, we identified a group of genes with high expression in responder cells (“responder genes”), but extremely low expression in the Pr-HP cells.
Project description:The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor hairy and enhancer of split (Hes3) is a member of the Hes/Hey gene family that regulates developmental processes in progenitor cells from various tissues. We demonstrated the Hes3 expression in mouse pancreatic tissue, suggesting it may have a role in modulating beta-cell function. We employed a transfection approach to address specific functions of Hes3. Hes3 RNA interference opposed the growth of the mouse insulinoma cell line Min6. Western blotting and PCR approaches specifically showed that Hes3 RNA interference opposes the expression of Pdx1 and insulin. Likewise, Hes3 knock down reduced evoked insulin release from Min6 cells. We used microarray analysis to examine differences in gene expression when Hes3 expression was knocked down in cells grown under different culture condtions.
Project description:Cancer stem cells are responsible for the regenerative properties of tumors, manifested as recurrence and metastasis. They can adopt different states, some of which may not be sensitive to current therapies. Modeling distinct states in culture will contribute towards efficient drug discovery. We previously demonstrated that putative cancer stem cells from multiple glioblastoma patients can be efficiently maintained under different signal transduction states by means of different culture conditions; each state is marked by different levels of STAT3 phosphorylation and Hes3 expression. Here we perform global gene expression and mechanical analyses on three primary cell lines to better characterize each state and to address their broad relevance. We report consistent gene expression profiles and mechanical phenotypes among the three lines across different states. Our data argues for the use of specific culture conditions to model distinct states, all of which may be useful in therapeutic design.
Project description:Naïve mouse ESCs exhibit full term developmental competence thus hold great potential in regenerative medicine. Maintaining genome stability is essential for potential application of ESCs in stem cell therapy. While ESC potency fluctuate with retrovirus activity, it is unclear whether long-term cultures affect retrotransposition and genomic stability. We compared retrotransposons in naïve ESCs using various approaches. We show that feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM maintain appropriate expression of retrovirus activity following long-term cultures, whereas cultures under 2iLif and a2i result in aberrant upregulation of retrotransposons. This leads to high frequent retrotransposition. Moreover, naïve ESCs on feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM still generate complete ESC pups by TEC assay, functional test of pluripotency, following long-term cultures, despite that all culture conditions maintain high expression levels of pluripotent genes such as Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and Sox2. Meanwhile, long telomeres are maintained in ESCs under cultures in Feeder-serum and LCDM conditions but telomeres shortened in other conditions with increasing passages. These data provide insights into retrotransposition, genomic stability and pluripotency of naïve ESCs.
Project description:Naïve mouse ESCs exhibit full term developmental competence thus hold great potential in regenerative medicine. Maintaining genome stability is essential for potential application of ESCs in stem cell therapy. While ESC potency fluctuate with retrovirus activity, it is unclear whether long-term cultures affect retrotransposition and genomic stability. We compared retrotransposons in naïve ESCs using various approaches. We show that feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM maintain appropriate expression of retrovirus activity following long-term cultures, whereas cultures under 2iLif and a2i result in aberrant upregulation of retrotransposons. This leads to high frequent retrotransposition. Moreover, naïve ESCs on feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM still generate complete ESC pups by TEC assay, functional test of pluripotency, following long-term cultures, despite that all culture conditions maintain high expression levels of pluripotent genes such as Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and Sox2. Meanwhile, long telomeres are maintained in ESCs under cultures in Feeder-serum and LCDM conditions but telomeres shortened in other conditions with increasing passages. These data provide insights into retrotransposition, genomic stability and pluripotency of naïve ESCs.
Project description:Naïve mouse ESCs exhibit full term developmental competence thus hold great potential in regenerative medicine. Maintaining genome stability is essential for potential application of ESCs in stem cell therapy. While ESC potency fluctuate with retrovirus activity, it is unclear whether long-term cultures affect retrotransposition and genomic stability. We compared retrotransposons in naïve ESCs using various approaches. We show that feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM maintain appropriate expression of retrovirus activity following long-term cultures, whereas cultures under 2iLif and a2i result in aberrant upregulation of retrotransposons. This leads to high frequent retrotransposition. Moreover, naïve ESCs on feeder-serum based culture conditions and small molecule LCDM still generate complete ESC pups by TEC assay, functional test of pluripotency, following long-term cultures, despite that all culture conditions maintain high expression levels of pluripotent genes such as Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and Sox2. Meanwhile, long telomeres are maintained in ESCs under cultures in Feeder-serum and LCDM conditions but telomeres shortened in other conditions with increasing passages. These data provide insights into retrotransposition, genomic stability and pluripotency of naïve ESCs.