The transcriptional control of CNS myelin gene expression is poorly understood. Here we identify gene model 98, which we have named Myelin-gene Regulatory Factor (MRF), as a transcriptional regulator required for CNS myelination. Within the CNS, MRF is specifically expressed by postmitotic oligodendrocytes. MRF is a nuclear protein containing an evolutionarily conserved DNA binding domain homologous to a yeast transcription factor. Knockdown of MRF in oligodendrocytes by RNA interference prevents expression of most CNS myelin genes; conversely, overexpression of MRF within cultured oligodendrocyte progenitors or the chick spinal cord promotes expression of myelin genes. In mice lacking MRF within the oligodendrocyte lineage, pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes are generated but display severe deficits in myelin gene expression and fail to myelinate. These mice display severe neurological abnormalities, and die due to seizures during the third postnatal week. These findings establish MRF as a critical transcriptional regulator essential for oligodendrocyte maturation and CNS myelination.
Myelin gene regulatory factor is a critical transcriptional regulator required for CNS myelination.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis study compared gene expression in murine bcr-abl positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in vivo in allogeneic BMT recipients compared to syngneneic BMT recipients.
Differential gene expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells surviving allogeneic transplant.
Specimen part
View SamplesDifferent types of hair follicles can be found in the skin of mice. It is believed that the signals that control hair follicle differentiation arise from cells in a structure called the dermal papilla. Understanding the nature of those signals is of interest for the biology of the normal tissue.
Sox2-positive dermal papilla cells specify hair follicle type in mammalian epidermis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe impact of specific p53 mutations on ovarian tumor development and response to therapeutic treatment remain limited. Here, using transgenic mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), we demonstrated that the Trp53R172H mutation promotes EOC progression compared to wild-type p53, but with different consequences between heterozygous and homozygous mutation status. EOC expressing heterozygous Trp53R172H mutation has enhanced responsiveness to steroid hormones and at late stage developed mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. These findings open new realms for exploring the interaction between p53 and steroid receptor, and the allelic status of p53 in EOC development and treatment.
Mutant p53 Promotes Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by Regulating Tumor Differentiation, Metastasis, and Responsiveness to Steroid Hormones.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesPTEN loss or PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activation correlates with human prostate cancer progression and metastasis. However, in preclinical murine models, deletion of Pten alone fails to mimic the significant metastatic burden that frequently accompanies the end stage of human disease. To identify additional pathway alterations that cooperate with PTEN loss in prostate cancer progression, we surveyed human prostate cancer tissue microarrays and found that the RAS/MAPK pathway is significantly elevated both in primary and metastatic lesions. In an attempt to model this event, we crossed conditional activatable K-rasG12D/WT mice with the prostate conditional Pten deletion model we previously generated. Although RAS activation alone cannot initiate prostate cancer development, it significantly accelerated progression caused by PTEN loss, accompanied by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and macrometastasis with 100% penitence. A novel stem/progenitor subpopulation with mesenchymal characteristics was isolated from the compound mutant prostates, which was highly metastatic upon orthotopic transplantation. Importantly, inhibition of RAS/MAPK signaling by PD325901, a MEK inhibitor, significantly reduced the metastatic progression initiated from transplanted stem/progenitor cells. Collectively, these data indicate that activation of RAS/MAPK signaling serves as a potentiating second hit to alteration of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis and co-targeting both pathways is highly effective in preventing the development of metastatic prostate cancers.
Pten loss and RAS/MAPK activation cooperate to promote EMT and metastasis initiated from prostate cancer stem/progenitor cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesThese data are from the brains (amygdala and hippocampus) of mice originally derived from a cross between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred strains. We used short-term selection to produce outbred mouse lines with differences in contextual fear conditioning, which is a measure of fear learning. We selected for a total of 4 generations. Fear learning differed in the selected lines and this difference was stronger with each successive generation of selection. These mice also showed differences for measures of anxiety-like behavior, but were not different for tests of non-fear motivated learning, suggesting that selection altered alleles that are specifically involved in emotional behaviors. We identified several QTLs for the selection response. We used Affymetrix microarrays to identify differentially expressed genes in the amygdala and hippocampus of mice from the final generation of selection. Amygdala and hippocampus samples were rapidly dissected out of experimentally nave mice f rom each selected line. Three samples were pooled and hybridized to each array. Experimentally nave mice were used because the behavior of the mice can be reliably anticipated due to their lineage. Thus, these gene expression differences are not due to the response to human handling, foot shock or fear-inducing conditioned stimuli. We have a second similar study that focuses on a different selected population that was based on C57BL/6J and A/J mice (see GES4034).
Selection for contextual fear conditioning affects anxiety-like behaviors and gene expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo model the potential diabetogenic effects of higher level of HSD11B1 in b-cells of the pancreas in vivo, we created a transgenic model overexpressing HSD11B1 under the mouse insulin I promoter (MIP-HSD1) in diabetes-prone C57Bl/KsJ mice. KsJ wild type and MIP-HSD1 heterozygous mice have been high fat fed for 12 weeks. Pancreata have been perfused with collagenase and islets isolated by hand picking. Isolated islets (around 500) coming from at least 3 mice (around 200/mice) have been directly lysed in Trizol. Total RNA have been extracted by Trizol plus RNA Purification Kit (invitrogen).
Optimal elevation of β-cell 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 is a compensatory mechanism that prevents high-fat diet-induced β-cell failure.
Specimen part
View SamplesPreclinical work has long focused only on male animals, even though sexual divergence in both baseline behaviors and drug responses clearly impact treatment outcomes in patients. Psychiatric disorders are notably divergent, with males showing higher prevalence of ADHD and ASD, and females GAD and MDD. This divergence is reflected in quantitative differences in subclincal behaviors. The Noradrenergic neurotransmitter system is targeted by many psychiatric drugs, but is relatively uncharacterized at a molecular level. We developed a mouse to profile these neurons, defining their both a baseline transcriptome, including druggable receptors, and their molecular response to stimulation. We also discovered a remarkable sexual divergence in their gene expression, including functionally increased expression of the EP3 receptor in females a difference that can be used to modulate stress-induced anxiety in a sex specific manner. These findings underscore the need to conduct preclinical studies in a manner balanced for sex, and suggest that baseline differences in noradrenergic neurons could underlay sexually divergent behaviors.
Molecular and Functional Sex Differences of Noradrenergic Neurons in the Mouse Locus Coeruleus.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesDominant RUNX1 inhibition has been proposed as a common pathway for CBF-leukemia. CBFb-SMMHC, a fusion protein in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), dominantly inhibits RUNX1 largely through its RUNX1 high-affinity binding domain (HABD). We generated knock-in mice expressing CBFb-SMMHC with a HABD deletion, CBFb-SMMHCd179-221. These mice developed leukemia highly efficiently, even though hematopoietic defects associated with Runx1-inhibition were partially rescued.
Accelerated leukemogenesis by truncated CBF beta-SMMHC defective in high-affinity binding with RUNX1.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe report a Jak2V617F knock-in mouse myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) model resembling human polycythemia vera (PV). The MPN is serially transplantable and we demonstrate that the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment has the unique capacity for disease initiation but does not have a selective competitive advantage over wild type HSCs. In contrast, myeloid progenitor populations are expanded and skewed towards the erythroid lineage, but cannot transplant the disease. Treatment with a JAK2 kinase inhibitor ameliorated the MPN phenotype, but did not eliminate the disease-initiating population. These findings provide insights into the consequences of JAK2 activation on HSC differentiation and function and have the potential to inform therapeutic approaches to JAK2V617F positive MPN.
Physiological Jak2V617F expression causes a lethal myeloproliferative neoplasm with differential effects on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
Specimen part
View Samples