Project description:Transcription profiling by array of mouse male retinas to investigate IGF-I-induced chronic gliosis and retinal stress IGF-I exert multiple effects in different retinal cell populations in both physiological and pathological conditions. Transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-I in the retina showed impaired electroretinographic responses at 6-7 months of age that worsen with age. This retinal neuronal dysfunction was correlated with the loss of rod photoreceptors, bipolar, ganglion and amacrines cells. Neuronal alterations were preceded by the overexpression of retinal stress markers, acute phase proteins and gliosis-related genes. IGF-I overexpression leads to chronic gliosis and microgliosis in TgIGF-I retinas, with mild oxidative stress, impaired recycling of glutamate and defective potassium buffering. These impaired supportive functions can contribute to neurodegeneration in TgIGF-I retinas, together with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, potential mediators of neuronal death.
Project description:Whole Exome Sequencing of cohorts of Mutant Braf mouse model melanoma DNA and germline DNA. The cohorts are (1) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas, (2) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas from UVR exposed mice and (3) Mutant Braf mouse model melanomas from UVR exposed, sunscreen protected mice.
Project description:Transcription profiling by array of mouse male retinas to investigate IGF-I-induced chronic gliosis and retinal stress IGF-I exert multiple effects in different retinal cell populations in both physiological and pathological conditions. Transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-I in the retina showed impaired electroretinographic responses at 6-7 months of age that worsen with age. This retinal neuronal dysfunction was correlated with the loss of rod photoreceptors, bipolar, ganglion and amacrines cells. Neuronal alterations were preceded by the overexpression of retinal stress markers, acute phase proteins and gliosis-related genes. IGF-I overexpression leads to chronic gliosis and microgliosis in TgIGF-I retinas, with mild oxidative stress, impaired recycling of glutamate and defective potassium buffering. These impaired supportive functions can contribute to neurodegeneration in TgIGF-I retinas, together with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, potential mediators of neuronal death. 3 transgenic and 3 wild type biological replicates examined.
Project description:Protein arginine methylation is an important process, which regulates diverse cellular functions including cell proliferation, RNA stability, DNA repair and gene transcription. Based on literature search, protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) indeed plays important roles in colon cancer pathophysiology. The PRMT expression level is involved in colon cancer patient’s survival and has been suggested to be a prognostic marker in colon cancer patients. Recently, our group found a novel methylation on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which affected EGFR downstream signaling. investigators further observed the methylation event on EGFR not only regulated tumor growth in mouse xenograft model but also influenced cetuximab response in colon cancer cell lines. To further study the clinical correlation between EGFR methylation and cetuximab response, we propose to detect EGFR methylation level in paraffin embedded tissue samples from colorectal cancer patients with or without cetuximab treatment by IHC staining and analyze its correlation with cetuximab response. This study will provide an insight to the strategy of colorectal cancer therapy.