Project description:Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare inherited disorder caused by genetic variants in type III collagen. Its prognosis is especially hampered by unpredictable arterial ruptures and there is no therapeutic consensus. We created a knock-in Col3a1+/G182R mouse model and performed a complete genetic, molecular and biochemical characterization. Several therapeutic strategies were also tested. Col3a1+/G182R mice showed a spontaneous mortality caused by thoracic aortic rupture that recapitulates the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with a lower survival rate in males, thin non-inflammatory arteries and an altered arterial collagen. Transcriptomic analysis of aortas showed upregulation of genes related to inflammation and cell stress response. Compared to water, survival rate of Col3a1+/G182R mice was not affected by beta-blockers (propranolol or celiprolol). Two other vasodilating anti-hypertensive agents (hydralazine, amlodipine) gave opposite results on aortic rupture and mortality rate. There was a spectacular beneficial effect of losartan, reversed by the cessation of its administration, and a marked deleterious effect of exogenous angiotensin II. These results suggest that blockade of the renin angiotensin system should be tested as a first-line medical therapy in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients affected with classical Ehlers Danlos syndrome (cEDS) Transcriptome-wide expression profiling using the Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST platform comparing the gene expression pattern of cultured skin fibroblasts from 4 cEDS patients with those of 9 healthy individuals
Project description:Analysis of gene expression profiling of cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients affected with vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (vEDS) Transcriptome-wide expression profiling using the Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST platform comparing the gene expression pattern of cultured skin fibroblasts derived from three patients with vEDS with those of nine healthy individuals
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was to further our understanding of gene expression in the central nervous system (thalamus and cerebrum) after exposure to West Nile virus. To that end, three different analyses were performed. The first examined differences in gene expression between horses not vaccinated and exposed to WNV and normal control horses (exposure). The second examined differences in gene expression between horses not vaccinated and exposed to WNV and horses vaccinated and exposed to WNV (survival). And the third examined differences between the nonvaccinated cerebrum and nonvaccinated thalamus of horses exposed to WNV (location). Six conditions- Gene expression in the thalamus and cerebrum of three different groups of horses (Non-vaccinated horses exposed to West Nile virus, Vaccinated horses exposed to West Nile virus, normal horses not exposed to West Nile virus). Biological replicates- 6 normal cerebrums, 6 normal thalamus, 6 vaccinated and exposed cerebrums, 6 vaccinated and exposed thalamus, 6 non-vaccinated and exposed cerebrum, 6 non-vaccinated and exposed thalamus.
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was to further our understanding of gene expression in the central nervous system (thalamus and cerebrum) after exposure to West Nile virus. To that end, three different analyses were performed. The first examined differences in gene expression between horses not vaccinated and exposed to WNV and normal control horses (exposure). The second examined differences in gene expression between horses not vaccinated and exposed to WNV and horses vaccinated and exposed to WNV (survival). And the third examined differences between the nonvaccinated cerebrum and nonvaccinated thalamus of horses exposed to WNV (location).
Project description:Purpose: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to select genes potentially associated with exercise adaptation in Arabian horses. Methods: Whole transcriptome profiling of blood was performed for untrained horses and horses from which samples were collected during at 3 different periods of training procedure (T1-during intense training period - March, T2- before starts - May and T3 -after flat racing season - October). The muscle transcriptome sequencing was performed for 37 blood samples using Illumina HiScan SQ in 75 single-end cycles. The quantifying transcript abundances was made using the RSEM supported by STAR aligner. The raw reads were aligned to the Equus caballus reference genome. Differentially expressed genes in blood tissue were detected by DESeq2. The RNA-seq results were validated using by qPCR. Results: The increase of the number of DEGs between subsequent training periods has been observed and the highest amount of DEGs was detected between untrained horses (T0) and horses at the end of the racing season (T3) â 440. The comparison of transcriptome of T2 vs T3 and T0 vs T3 showed a significant advantage of up-regulated genes during long-term exercise (up-regulation of 266 and 389 DEGs in T3 period compared T2 and T0; respectively). Our results showed that the largest number of identified genes encoded transcription factors, nucleic acid binding proteins and G-protein modulators, which mainly were transcriptional activated at the last training phase (T3) . Moreover, in the T3 period the identified DEGs represented genes coded for cytoskeletal proteins including actin cytoskeletal proteins and kinases. The most abundant exercise-upregulated genes were involved in pathways important in regulating the cell cycle (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway), cell communication (cAMP-dependent pathway), proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis as well as immunity processes (Jak-STAT signaling pathway). We also observed exercise induced expression of genes related in regulation of actin cytoskeleton, gluconeogenesis (FoxO signaling pathway; Insulin signaling pathway), glycerophospholipid metabolism and calcium signaling. Conclusions: TOur results allow to identify changes in genes expression profile following training schedule in Arabian horses. Based on comparison analysis of blood transcriptomes, several exercise-regulated pathways and genes most affected by exercise were detected. We pinpointed overrepresented molecular pathways and genes essential for exercise adaptive response via maintaining of body homeostasis. The observed transcriptional activation of such gene as LPGAT1, AGPAT5, PIK3CG, GPD2, FOXN2, FOXO3, ACVR1B and ACVR2A can be a base for further research in order to identify genes potentially associated with race performance in Arabian horses. Such markers will be essential to choice the training type, and could result in differences in racing performance specific to various breeds. The blood transcriptome sequencing was performed for 37 samples collected form Arabian horses using Illumina HiScan SQ in75 single-end cycles and in 3-4 technical repetitions.repetitions.
Project description:We undertook gene expression microarray experiments to identify genes that are differentially expressed in heaves-affected horses versus matched controls. Mediastinal (pulmonary-draining) lymph nodes were sterilely obtained from affected and control horses, dissected, and frozen at -80oC. RNA was extracted from these tissues for downstream applications. These experiments utilized a commercially available Agilent horse array that featured >43,000 probes on a 4x44k array format. Mediastinal lymph node RNA from seven heaves-affected horses was compared to matching RNA from healthy, normal control horses.