Background: Microvascular injury and increased vascular leakage are prominent features of the radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) which follows cancerassociated thoracic irradiation. The mechanisms of RILI are incompletely understood and therapeutic strategies to limit RILI are currently unavailable. We established a murine model of radiation pneumonitis in order to assess mechanism-based therapies for RILI-induced inflammation and vascular barrier dysfunction. Based on prior studies, we investigated the therapeutic potential of simvastatin as a vascular barrier protective agent in RILI.
Simvastatin attenuates radiation-induced murine lung injury and dysregulated lung gene expression.
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View SamplesQuantitative assays for human DNA and mRNA were used to examine the paradox that intravenously (IV) infused human multipotent stromal cells (hMSCs) can enhance tissue repair without significant engraftment. After 2 X 106 hMSCs were IV infused into mice, most of the cells were trapped as emboli in lung. The cells in lung disappeared with a half-life of about 24 hr but < 1,000 cells appeared in 6 other tissues. The hMSCs in lung up-regulated expression of multiple genes with a large increase in the anti-inflammatory protein TSG-6. After myocardial infarction, IV hMSCs but not hMSCs transduced with TSG-6 siRNA decreased inflammatory responses, reduced infarct size, and improved cardiac function. IV administration of recombinant TSG-6 also reduced inflammatory responses and reduced infarct size. The results suggest improvements in animal models and patients after IV infusions of MSCs are at least in part explained by activation of MSCs to secrete TSG-6.
Intravenous hMSCs improve myocardial infarction in mice because cells embolized in lung are activated to secrete the anti-inflammatory protein TSG-6.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesDisruption of local iron homeostasis is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases. We focused on dopaminergic neurons, asking how iron transport proteins modulate iron homeostasis in vivo. Inactivation of the transmembrane iron exporter ferroportin had no apparent consequences. However, loss of the transferrin receptor 1, involved in iron uptake, caused profound, age-progressive neurodegeneration with features similar to Parkinsons disease. There was gradual loss of dopaminergic projections in the striatum with subsequent death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. After depletion of 30% of the neurons the mice developed neurobehavioral parkinsonism, with evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial autophagy. Molecular analysis revealed strong signatures indicative of attempted axonal regeneration, a metabolic switch to glycolysis and the unfolded protein response. We speculate that cellular iron deficiency may contribute to neurodegeneration in human patients
Altered dopamine metabolism and increased vulnerability to MPTP in mice with partial deficiency of mitochondrial complex I in dopamine neurons.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesGene expression profile of joint tissue from C3H and interval specific congenic mouse lines (ISCL) following infection with Borrelia burgdorferi
Interval-specific congenic lines reveal quantitative trait Loci with penetrant lyme arthritis phenotypes on chromosomes 5, 11, and 12.
Specimen part
View SamplesEbf1 is a transcription factor with documented, and dose dependent, functions in both normal and malignant B-lymphocyte development. In order to understand more about the role of Ebf1 in malignant transformation, we have investigated the impact of reduced functional Ebf1 dose on early B-cell progenitors. Gene expression analysis in loss and gain of function analysis suggested that Ebf1 was involved in the regulation of genes of importance for DNA repair as well as cell survival. Investigation of the level of DNA damage in steady state as well as after induction of DNA damage by UV light supported that pro-B cells lacking one functional allele of Ebf1 display a reduced ability to repair DNA damage. This was correlated to a reduction in expression of Rad51 and combined analysis of published 4C and chromatin Immuno precipitation data suggested that this gene is a direct target for Ebf1. Even though the lack of one allele of Ebf1 did not result in any dramatic increase of tumor formation, we noted a dramatic increase in the formation of pro-B cell leukemia in mice carrying a combined heterozygote mutation in the Ebf1 and Pax5 genes. Even though the tumors were phenotypically similar and stable, we noted a large degree of molecular heterogeneity well in line with a mechanism involving impaired DNA repair. Our data support the idea that Ebf1 controls homologous DNA repair in a dose dependent manner and that this may explain the frequent involvement of Ebf1 in human leukemia
Ebf1 heterozygosity results in increased DNA damage in pro-B cells and their synergistic transformation by Pax5 haploinsufficiency.
Specimen part, Cell line, Time
View SamplesCold triggers VEGF dependent but hypoxia independent angiogenesis in adipose tissues and anti-VEGF agents modulate adipose metabolism
Hypoxia-independent angiogenesis in adipose tissues during cold acclimation.
Sex
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
NRASG12V oncogene facilitates self-renewal in a murine model of acute myelogenous leukemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Sox9 Controls Self-Renewal of Oncogene Targeted Cells and Links Tumor Initiation and Invasion.
Specimen part
View SamplesSox9 is a transcription factor expressed in most solid tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Sox9 function during tumorigenesis remain unclear. Here, using a genetic mouse model of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most frequent cancer in human, we show that Sox9 is expressed from the earliest step of tumor formation in a Wnt/-catenin dependent manner. Deletion of Sox9 together with the constitutive activation of Hedgehog (HH) signaling completely prevents BCC formation and leads to a progressive loss of oncogene expressing cells. Transcriptional profiling of oncogene expressing cells with Sox9 deletion, combined with in vivo ChIP-sequencing uncovers a cancer-specific gene network regulated by Sox9 that promotes stemness, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and cytoskeleton remodeling while repressing epidermal differentiation. Our study identifies the molecular mechanisms regulated by Sox9 that links tumor initiation and invasion.
Sox9 Controls Self-Renewal of Oncogene Targeted Cells and Links Tumor Initiation and Invasion.
Specimen part
View SamplesUsing two independently derived murine BXH2 cell lines, Ara-C resistant derivatives were developed by exposure to increasing concentrations of Ara-C. Microarray analysis comparing the Ara-C resistant cells to their Ara-C sensitive parental cell lines identified potential genes involved in Ara-C resistance.
Deoxycytidine kinase is downregulated in Ara-C-resistant acute myeloid leukemia murine cell lines.
Specimen part, Cell line
View Samples