Project description:Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic, inflammatory skin disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. Thus, we performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of 28,695 lesional and non-lesional PN cells. Lesional PN has increased dysregulated fibroblasts (FBs) and myofibroblasts. FBs in lesional PN were shifted towards a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-like phenotype, with POSTN+WNT5A+ CAFs increased in PN, and similarly so in squamous cell carcinoma. A multi-center cohort study revealed an increased risk of SCC and CAF-associated malignancies (breast and colorectal) in PN patients. Systemic fibroproliferative diseases (renal sclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) were upregulated in PN patients. Ligand receptor analyses demonstrated a fibroblast neuronal axis with FB-derived WNT5A and periostin interactions with neuronal receptors MCAM and ITGAV. Compared to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, mesenchymal dysregulation is unique to PN with an intermediate Th2/Th17 phenotype. These findings identify a pathogenic and targetable POSTN+WNT5A+ fibroblast subpopulation that may predispose CAF-associated malignancies in PN patients.
Project description:Pontine nuclei (PN) neurons mediate the communication between the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum to refine skilled motor functions. Prior studies have shown that PN neurons fall into two subtypes based on their anatomic location and region-specific connectivity, but the extent of their heterogeneity and its molecular drivers remain unknown. Atoh1 encodes a transcription factor that is expressed in the PN precursors. We previously showed that partial loss-of-function of Atoh1 in mice results in delayed PN development and impaired motor learning. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the cell-state-specific functions of Atoh1 during PN development and discovered that Atoh1 regulates cell cycle exit, differentiation, migration, and survival of the PN neurons. Importantly, our data revealed six previously not known PN subtypes that are molecularly and spatially distinct. Interestingly, we found the PN subtypes exhibit differential vulnerability to partial loss of Atoh1 function, providing insights into the prominence of PN phenotypes in patients with ATOH1 missense mutations.
Project description:Parthenolide (PN), a key active ingredient of feverfew, has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. However, the mechanism of the cytotoxic effect exerted by PN on tumor cells is not elucidated now. MGC-803 cells treated with and without PN were separately subjected to high throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
Project description:A subanalysis of the GIMEMA-MMY-3006 trial was performed to characterize treatment-emergent peripheral neuropathy (PN) in patients randomized to thalidomide-dexamethasone (TD) or bortezomib-TD (VTD) before and after double autologous transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). 236 patients randomized to VTD and 238 to TD were stratified according to the emergence of grade ≥2 PN. Gene expression profiles (GEP) of CD138+ plasma cells were analyzed from 122 VTD-treated patients. The incidence of grade ≥2 PN was 35% in the VTD arm and 10% in the TD arm (p<0.001). PN resolved in 88% and 95% of patients in VTD and TD groups, respectively. Rates of complete/near complete response, progression-free and overall survival were not adversely affected by emergence of grade ≥2 PN. Baseline characteristics were not risk factors for PN, while GEP analysis revealed the deregulated expression of genes implicated in cytoskeleton rearrangement, neurogenesis and axonal guidance. In conclusion, in comparison with TD, incorporation of VTD into ASCT was associated with a higher incidence of PN which, however, was reversible in most of the patients and did not adversely affect their outcomes nor their ability to subsequently receive ASCT. GEP analysis suggests an interaction between myeloma genetic profiles and development of VTD-induced PN.
Project description:A subanalysis of the GIMEMA-MMY-3006 trial was performed to characterize treatment-emergent peripheral neuropathy (PN) in patients randomized to thalidomide-dexamethasone (TD) or bortezomib-TD (VTD) before and after double autologous transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). 236 patients randomized to VTD and 238 to TD were stratified according to the emergence of grade M-bM-^IM-%2 PN. Gene expression profiles (GEP) of CD138+ plasma cells were analyzed from 122 VTD-treated patients. The incidence of grade M-bM-^IM-%2 PN was 35% in the VTD arm and 10% in the TD arm (p<0.001). PN resolved in 88% and 95% of patients in VTD and TD groups, respectively. Rates of complete/near complete response, progression-free and overall survival were not adversely affected by emergence of grade M-bM-^IM-%2 PN. Baseline characteristics were not risk factors for PN, while GEP analysis revealed the deregulated expression of genes implicated in cytoskeleton rearrangement, neurogenesis and axonal guidance. In conclusion, in comparison with TD, incorporation of VTD into ASCT was associated with a higher incidence of PN which, however, was reversible in most of the patients and did not adversely affect their outcomes nor their ability to subsequently receive ASCT. GEP analysis suggests an interaction between myeloma genetic profiles and development of VTD-induced PN. 120 samples have been analyzed; the homogeneity of samples has been ensured by the immunomagnetic enrichment procedure: only >90% pure CD138+ cells have been employed.
Project description:Pyronaridine (PN) and chloroquine (CQ) are structurally related anti-malarial drugs with primarily the same mode of action. However, PN is effective against several multidrug-resistant lines of Plasmodium falciparum, including CQ-resistant lines, suggestive of important operational differences between the two drugs. Synchronized trophozoite-stage cultures of P. falciparum strain K1 (CQ resistant) were exposed to 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of PN and CQ, and parasites were harvested from culture after 4 and 24 hours exposure. Global transcriptional changes effected by drug treatment were investigated using DNA microarrays. Plasmodium falciparum in vitro cultures were synchronized to trophozoite stage (22-24h post infection) and exposed to either CQ or PN at IC50 concentrations. 18 sample pairs (drug treated/untreated) were analyzed; 9 for CQ and 9 for PN. All drug-treated samples were labelled with Cy5 and untreated controls were labelled with Cy3.
Project description:We reported altered RNA expression profiles in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice upon parenteral nutrition treatment compared to saline infusion controls. RNA samples used were isolated from the livers of PN or saline infused mice. RNA samples from 3 saline or 3 PN mouse livers were pooled, respectively. Final fold change were calculated by normalize the signal intensity of each probe in PN sample to that of the saline sample.
Project description:Tumor heterogeneity of high-grade glioma (HGG) is recognized by four clinically relevant subtypes based on core gene signatures. However, molecular signaling in glioma stem cells (GSCs) in individual HGG subtypes is poorly characterized. Here we identified and characterized two mutually exclusive GSC subtypes with distinct dysregulated signaling pathways. Analysis of mRNA profiles distinguished proneural (PN) from mesenchymal (Mes) GSCs and revealed a pronounced correlation with the corresponding PN or Mes HGGs. Mes GSCs displayed more aggressive phenotypes in vitro and as intracranial xenografts in mice. Further, Mes GSCs were markedly resistant to radiation compared with PN GSCs. The glycolytic pathway, comprising aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) family genes and in particular ALDH1A3, were enriched in Mes GSCs. Glycolytic activity and ALDH activity were significantly elevated in Mes GSCs but not in PN GSCs. Expression of ALDH1A3 was also increased in clinical HGG compared with low-grade glioma or normal brain tissue. Moreover, inhibition of ALDH1A3 attenuated the growth of Mes but not PN GSCs. Last, radiation treatment of PN GSCs up-regulated Mes-associated markers and downregulated PN-associated markers, whereas inhibition of ALDH1A3 attenuated an irradiation-induced gain of Mes identity in PN GSCs. Taken together, our data suggest that two subtypes of GSCs, harboring distinct metabolic signaling pathways, represent intertumoral glioma heterogeneity and highlight previously unidentified roles of ALDH1A3-associated signaling that promotes aberrant proliferation of Mes HGGs and GSCs. Inhibition of ALDH1A3- mediated pathways therefore might provide a promising therapeutic approach for a subset of HGGs with the Mes signature.