Project description:To explore genetic profiles in the cardiac tissues fabricated by heart extracellular matrix (HEM) hydrogel and dynamic flow in microfluidic chip (Chip flow), we analyzed and compared differences in mRNA expression levels of the each cardiac tissue (No HEM-Plate static, HEM-Plate static, No HEM-Chip flow, HEM-Chip flow).
Project description:Melanoma cell lines were genotyped to evaluate copy number differences between nodular melanoma (NM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM). Cell lines were also evaluated for copy number alterations in the SKP2/p27 axis. Affymetrix SNP arrays were performed according to manufacturer's instructions using DNA extracted from 18 melanoma cell lines and 4 melanocyte controls. Affymetrix SNP6.0 Array data for melanoma cell lines Copy number analysis of Affymetrix SNP 6.0 arrays was performed on 18 melanoma cell lines including 2 primary superficial spreading melanoma, 2 primary nodular melanoma, 2 metastatic nodular melanoma, and 12 metastatic cell lines. Four melanocyte control lines were also evaluated including 2 immortalized melanocyte cell lines (Hermes 1 and 2B) and 2 normal melanocyte lines cultured from neonatal foreskin (HEM-N and HEM-LP) that were used to construct the baseline for copy number analysis.
Project description:Cajal-Retzius cells (CR cells) are the earliest born neurons in the cerebral cortex, and have been implicated in neuronal migration and development of cortical circuitry. One of the sources of CR cells is the cortical hem, which is rich in morphogens of the canonical WNT signaling family. In this study we examine the effect of stabilization of β-CATENIN (gain of function, GOF) in the mouse cortical hem and show that although neurons are still produced, they do not acquire a CR cell identity. The trajectory of differentiation examined using single-cell transcriptomics revealed that upon β-CATENIN GOF, hem-derived CR cells do not display a TBR2+ stage characteristic of immature CR cells. This effect is only seen when β-CATENIN GOF is driven in hem progenitors and is not seen upon β-CATENIN GOF in postmitotic CR cells. These data suggest that a TBR2+ stage may be important for hem-derived CR cell development and that this step appears to be sensitive to levels of stabilized β-CATENIN in hem progenitors.
Project description:Metabolic adaptation allows cancer cells to survive and thrive in changing (nutritional) environments and is therefore a major contributor to cancer progression. The role of diet herein remains largely unexplored. Red and processed meat consumption is associated to colorectal cancer (CRC), e.g. by the influence of metabolites in the colon lumen. In this study, the impact of individual and mixtures of meat-derived metabolites on cancer cell metabolic adaptations upon nutritional deprivation is investigated. Using respirometry and transcriptomics, shifts in the ratio of oxidative and glycolytic metabolism were demonstrated upon treatment with hemin (HEM) and kynurenine (KYN). In addition, we found that a combination of HEM and KYN had the strongest impact on the metabolic adaptability during glucose deprivation, potentially supported by stimulated intracellular lipid storage. These results reveal an important role of red meat metabolites in cancer cell bioenergetics by acting on key metabolic pathways and show combined effects of HEM and KYN.
Project description:The two most common melanoma histopathologic subtypes, superficial spreading (SSM) and nodular melanoma (NM), are believed to represent sequential phases of linear progression from radial to vertical growth. Studies suggest, however, that SSM and NM are biologically distinct. We utilized an integrative genomic approach to examine the possibility that SSM and NM are the result of independent pathways characterized by unique molecular alterations. Cell lines including SSM, NM, metastatic melanoma, and melanocyte controls were evaluated for copy number changes and differential mRNA expression using single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP 6.0, Affymetrix) and gene array (U133A 2.0, Affymetrix). Data sets were integrated to identify copy number alterations that correlated with gene expression, and array results were validated using immunohistochemistry on human tissue microarrays (TMAs) and an external data set. The functional effect of genomic deletion was assessed by lentiviral overexpression. Integrative genomics revealed 8 genes in which NM/SSM-specific copy number alterations were correlated with NM/SSM differential gene expression (P<0.05, Spearman’s rank). Pathways analysis of differentially expressed genes (N=114) showed enrichment for metabolic-related processes. SSM-specific genomic deletions (DIS3, MTAP, G3BP2, SEC23IP, USO1) were verified in an expanded panel of cell lines, and forced overexpression of MTAP in SSM resulted in reduced cell growth. Metabolism-related gene ALDH7A1 was verified as overexpressed in NM using human TMAs.The identification of recurrent genomic deletions in SSM not present in NM challenges the linear model of melanoma progression and supports the unique molecular classification of SSM and NM. Gene expression profiling using Affymetrix U133A 2.0 arrays was performed on 18 melanoma cell lines including 2 primary superficial spreading melanoma, 2 primary nodular melanoma, 2 metastatic nodular melanoma, and 12 metastatic cell lines. Four melanocyte control lines were also evaluated including 2 immortalized melanocyte cell lines (Hermes 1 and 2B) and 2 normal melanocyte lines cultured from neonatal foreskin (HEM-N and HEM-LP).