Project description:Differentiation of INSGFP/w hESCs using published protocols demonstrated that all GFP+ cells co-expressed insulin, confirming the fidelity of the reporter gene. INS-GFP+ cells also co-expressed glucagon and somatostatin, confirming prior studies regarding the polyhormonal nature of early hESC derived insulin-expressing cells. INSGFP/w hESCs were employed to develop a 96 well format spin Embryoid Body (EB) differentiation protocol that utilized the recombinant protein based fully defined medium, APEL. Like INS-GFP+ cells generated with other methods, those derived using the spin EB protocol expressed a collection of pancreatic related transcription factors including ISL1, PAX6 and NKX2.2. However, in contrast to previous methods, the spin EB protocol yielded INS-GFP+ cells that also co-expressed the beta-cell transcription factor, NKX6.1 and comprised a substantial proportion of monohormonal insulin+ cells.
Project description:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Among the various subtypes of lung cancers, pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) cancer, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and NE-non-small cell lung cancer (NE-NSCLC), is a particularly aggressive malignancy that is distinct from classic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in its metastatic potential and treatment response. Recently, the lineage-specific transcription factors Achaete-scute homolog 1 (ASCL1), NEUROD1, and POU2F3 have been reported to identify heterogeneity in pulmonary NE cancers. These transcription factors bind different genomic loci to regulate distinct gene programs in pulmonary NE cancers. However, the signaling pathways downstream of these transcription factors that distinguish these pulmonary NE cancer subtypes are not well characterized. Regulated protein secretion is critically involved in cell signaling and cell-cell communication events, and is known to be a hallmark associated with pulmonary NE tumors. Using a large-scale mass spectrometric approach, we performed quantitative secretomic analysis 13 cell lines including a pair of isogenic cell lines, i.e., an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell and an ASCL1high NE NSCLC line. This panel also contained 6 additional ASCL1High and 5 NEUROD1High NE-lung cancer cell lines. From the conditioned media of the 13 cell lines, we identified and quantified 1,626 proteins. The NE-specific secretome is associated with a number of biological processes related to neurodevelopment. Further analysis of the upregulated proteins in ASCL1High subtype NE-lung cancer cells leads to the identification of IGFBP5 being a specific secreted marker for ASCL1High pulmonary NE cancer cells. Furthermore, IGFBP5 is also upregulated in the serum of a genetically modified mouse model of ASCL1High SCLC, as well as in human ASCL1High SCLC tumors. Mechanistically, ASCL1 binds to E-box elements in the IGFBP5 gene and directly regulates its transcription. Knockdown of ASCL1 in SCLC decreases IGFBP5 expression, which, in turn, leads to hyperactivation of the IGF-1R pathway. Pharmacological co-targeting of ASCL1 and IGF-1R signaling results in markedly synergistic, growth inhibitory effects in ASCL1High SCLC both in vitro and in vivo. Together, our quantitative proteomic analysis identifies a novel secreted marker and a new combination therapy for ASCL1High pulmonary NE cancer cells. In addition, we expect that the data sets will serve as an invaluable resource, providing the foundation for future mechanistic studies and biomarker discovery that helps delineate the molecular underpinnings of pulmonary NE tumors.
Project description:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Among the various subtypes of lung cancers, pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) cancer, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and NE-non-small cell lung cancer (NE-NSCLC), is a particularly aggressive malignancy that is distinct from classic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in its metastatic potential and treatment response. Recently, the lineage-specific transcription factors Achaete-scute homolog 1 (ASCL1), NEUROD1, and POU2F3 have been reported to identify heterogeneity in pulmonary NE cancers. These transcription factors bind different genomic loci to regulate distinct gene programs in pulmonary NE cancers. However, the signaling pathways downstream of these transcription factors that distinguish these pulmonary NE cancer subtypes are not well characterized. Regulated protein secretion is critically involved in cell signaling and cell-cell communication events, and is known to be a hallmark associated with pulmonary NE tumors. Using a large-scale mass spectrometric approach, we performed quantitative secretomic analysis 13 cell lines including a pair of isogenic cell lines, i.e., an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell and an ASCL1high NE NSCLC line. This panel also contained 6 additional ASCL1High and 5 NEUROD1High NE-lung cancer cell lines. From the conditioned media of the 13 cell lines, we identified and quantified 1,626 proteins. The NE-specific secretome is associated with a number of biological processes related to neurodevelopment. Further analysis of the upregulated proteins in ASCL1High subtype NE-lung cancer cells leads to the identification of IGFBP5 being a specific secreted marker for ASCL1High pulmonary NE cancer cells. Furthermore, IGFBP5 is also upregulated in the serum of a genetically modified mouse model of ASCL1High SCLC, as well as in human ASCL1High SCLC tumors. Mechanistically, ASCL1 binds to E-box elements in the IGFBP5 gene and directly regulates its transcription. Knockdown of ASCL1 in SCLC decreases IGFBP5 expression, which, in turn, leads to hyperactivation of the IGF-1R pathway. Pharmacological co-targeting of ASCL1 and IGF-1R signaling results in markedly synergistic, growth inhibitory effects in ASCL1High SCLC both in vitro and in vivo. Together, our quantitative proteomic analysis identifies a novel secreted marker and a new combination therapy for ASCL1High pulmonary NE cancer cells. In addition, we expect that the data sets will serve as an invaluable resource, providing the foundation for future mechanistic studies and biomarker discovery that helps delineate the molecular underpinnings of pulmonary NE tumors.
Project description:Expression analyses comparing c-Fos expressing keratinocytes vs non-expressing controls. Skin squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the second most prevalent skin cancers. Chronic skin inflammation has been associated with the development of SCCs, but the contribution of skin inflammation to SCC development remains largely unknown. In this study we demonstrate that inducible expression of c-fos in the epidermis of adult mice is sufficient to promote inflammation-mediated epidermal hyperplasia leading to the development of pre-neoplastic lesions. Interestingly, c-Fos transcriptionally controls mmp10 and s100a7a15 expression in keratinocytes subsequently leading to CD4 T cell recruitment to the skin, thereby promoting epidermal hyperplasia. Combining inducible c-fos expression in the epidermis with a single dose of the carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) leads to the development of highly invasive SCCs, which are prevented by using the anti-inflammatory drug Sulindac. Moreover, human SCCs display a correlation between c-FOS expression and elevated levels of MMP10 and S100A15 proteins as well as CD4 T cell infiltration. Our studies demonstrate a bidirectional crosstalk between pre-malignant keratinocytes and infiltrating CD4 T cells in SCC development. Therefore, targeting inflammation along with the newly identified targets, such as MMP10 and S100A15, represent promising therapeutic strategies to treat SCCs. 5 different time points measured in triplicate comparing Dox-treated vs untreated c-FostetON keratinocytes
Project description:The goal of this study was to document the gene expression profile of FOXN1+ thymic endoderm cells derived from the in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in T-cell maturation and tolerance induction. The generation of TECs from in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) would provide a platform for studying the mechanisms of this interaction and have implications for immune reconstitution. To facilitate analysis of PSC-derived TECs, we generated human embryonic stem cell (hESC) reporter lines in which sequences encoding GFP were targeted to FOXN1, a gene required for TEC development. Using this FOXN1GFP/w line as a read out, we developed a reproducible protocol for generating FOXN1-GFP+ thymic endoderm cells. Transcriptional profiling and flow cytometry identified Integrin-β4 (ITGB4, CD104) and HLA-DR as markers that could be used in combination with EpCAM to selectively purify FOXN1+ TEC progenitors from differentiating cultures of unmanipulated PSCs. Human FOXN1+ TEC progenitors generated from PSCs will facilitate the study of thymus biology and are a valuable resource for future applications in regenerative medicine Human embryonic stem cells were differentiated for 30 days using the protocol described by Soh et al, 2014. The hESCs used in this protocol had been genetically modified by targeting sequences encoding GFP to the FOXN1 locus, thus enabling FOXN1 expressing cells to be identified on the basis of GFP expression. At differentiation day 30, differentiating cells were separated into three fractions using FACS. These fractions were the FOXN1+(GFP+)EpCAM+, FOXN1-(GFP-)EpCAM+, FOXN1-(GFP-)EpCAM-.
Project description:Interleukin (IL)-17 plays an important and protective role in host defence and has been demonstrated to orchestrate airway inflammation by cooperating with and inducing proinflammatory cytokines. Mircoarrays were used to identify immediate-early/ primary response IL-17A-dependent gene transcripts in primary human bronchial ASM cells from mild asthmatic and healthy individuals. To evaluate IL-17A-inducible gene transcripts, primary human bronchial ASM cells from 3 mild asthmatic and 3 healthy donors were treated for 2h with IL-17 [10ng/ml] and were probed with the Affymetrix GeneChip array. The 2h time point was carefully chosen in order to identify primary response gene targets and to avoid confounding autocrine mechanisms mediating indirect, or late-phase gene expression responses. Non-stimulated ASM cells from the same patients were used as controls.
Project description:Mouse gall bladder cells from MIP-GFP mice were expanded in vitro and transduced with adenoviral vectors expressing the transcription factors Neurog3, Pdx1 and MafA. Reprogrammed GFP+ cells were then FACS-sorted for RNA isolation.
Project description:Background & Aims Patient-derived gastrointestinal organoids are powerful tools for studying human physiology and disease. However, generating organoids requires prompt isolation and culture of fresh tissue, which is labor and time intensive, placing restraints on basic and clinical research. For example organoid biobanking efforts, or the ability to obtain specimens from distant locations that lack the expertise to culture organoids, is limited by current approaches. We sought to develop a method by which tissue biopsies from patients could be cryo-preserved, stored, or shipped, and later thawed in order to establish live organoid cultures. Methods A method for freezing and recovery, along with straightforward isolation methods using readily available materials were developed. Epithelial isolation and culture conditions were optimized to promote cell survival and the establishment of long-term culture post-thawing. Results Patient biopsies from stomach, duodenum, ileum, colon and from adenomateous colonic polyps were frozen, subsequently thawed and used to successfully establish patient-specific epithelium-only organoid cultures with 100% efficiency (n=31 independent patient biopsies from different regions of the GI tract). Frozen tissue could be shipped internationally and across the United States and used to establish successful organoid cultures. Organoid cultures could be expanded, passaged and frozen down for long-term storage. RNA-sequencing demonstrates that organoids derived from fresh tissue or from frozen biopsies are >99% transcriptionally identical. Conclusions Cryo-preservation of human tissue biopsies followed by the establishment of long-term, expandable cultures has negligible effect on transcription when compared to freshly prepared organoids, and will be of immense benefit to research and for clinical applications. This technique will allow for the establishment of biobanks of human tissues that can be revived and cultured in the future as well as transported across the globe for research, therapeutic or diagnostic use in remote labs and/or clinics.
Project description:Duplication of the genome in mammalian cells occurs in a defined temporal order referred as its replication-timing program (RT). RT is regulated in units of 400-800 Kb referred as replication domains (RDs) and changes dynamically during development. Changes in RT are generally coordinated with transcriptional competence and changes in sub-nuclear position. We generated genome-wide RT profiles for 29 distinct human cell types including embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived, primary cells and established cell lines representing intermediate stages of endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm and neural crest (NC) development. We identified clusters of RDs that replicate at unique times in each stage (RT signatures). Surprisingly, transcriptome data revealed that, despite an overall correlation between early replication and transcriptional activity, most genes that switched RT during differentiation can be expressed when late replicating. Intriguingly, this class of genes was nonetheless induced to high expression levels prior to a late to early RT switch and down-regulated after the switch back to late replication. These results clarify the complex relationship between transcription and RT and identify classes of genes that behave as potential drivers of the RT switch vs. those that may depend upon an RT switch for transcriptional induction. Genome-wide replication timing profiles were constructed from 60 human samples covering 29 distinct cell types including embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived, primary cells and established cell lines representing intermediate stages of endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm and neural crest (NC) development.
Project description:Results We compared MetaNovo to published results from the MetaPro-IQ pipeline on 8 human mucosal-luminal interface samples, with comparable numbers of peptide and protein identifications, many shared peptide sequences and a similar bacterial taxonomic distribution compared to that found using a matched metagenome database - but simultaneously identified proteins present in the samples that are derived from known gut organisms that were missed by the previous analyses. Finally, MetaNovo was benchmarked on samples of known microbial composition against matched metagenomic and whole genomic database workflows, yielding many more MS/MS for the expected taxa, with improved taxonomic representation, while also highlighting previously described genome sequencing quality concerns for one of the organisms, and providing evidence for a known sample contaminant without prior expectation. Conclusions By estimating taxonomic and peptide level information directly on microbiome samples from tandem mass spectrometry data, MetaNovo enables the simultaneous identification of peptides from all domains of life in metaproteome samples, bypassing the need for curated sequence search databases. We show that the MetaNovo approach to mass spectrometry metaproteomics can be more accurate than current gold standard approaches of tailored or matched genomic database searches, identify sample contaminants without prior expectation and that increases in assigned spectra from this approach can yield novel insights into previously unidentified metaproteomic signals - building on the potential for complex mass spectrometry metaproteomic data to speak for itself. The pipeline source code is available on GitHub and documentation is provided to run the software as a singularity-compatible docker image available from the Docker Hub.