Project description:Ameloblastoma (AM) is a benign but locally invasive tumor with high recurrence rates. Invasive behavior of the odontogenic tumor results in destruction of the adjacent jawbone and formation of daughter cysts, hindering the complete elimination of cancer cells during surgery. To understand the underlying mechanism of AM invasion, we compared the transcriptome of AM with that of an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), a dental epithelium-originated cyst with non-invasive characteristics.
Project description:The aim of this study was to decode the gene expression program characterizing odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) development, by performing a comprehensive transcriptomics analysis applied on whole OKC tissue derived from sporadic and Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (BCNS)-associated OKCs, and control samples of pericoronal tissues of impacted teeth (dental follicles, DFs) derived from healthy individuals.
Project description:Odontogenic tumors (OGTs), which originate from cells of odontogenic apparatus and their remnants, are rare entities. Primary intraosseous carcinoma, NOS (PIOC), is one of the OGTs, but it is even rarer and has a worse prognosis. The characteristics of PIOC, especially in immunohistochemical features and its pathogenesis, remain unclear. We characterized a case of PIOC arising from the left mandible, in which histopathological findings showed a transition between the odontogenic keratocyst and the carcinoma. The tumorous lesion of this PIOC exhibited malignant potentials with an invasive growth of carcinoma cells into the bone tissue, an elevated Ki-67 index, and lower signal for CK13 and higher signal for CK17 compared with the non-tumor region, histopathologically and immunohistopathologically. Further immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated increased expression of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-like 4c (ARL4C) (accompanying expression of β-catenin in the nucleus) and yes-associated protein (YAP) in the tumorous lesion. On the other hand, YAP was expressed and the expression of ARL4C was hardly detected in the non-tumor region. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR analysis using RNAs and dot blot analysis using genomic DNA showed the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and epigenetic alterations, such as an increase of 5mC levels and a decrease of 5hmC levels, in the tumorous lesion. A DNA microarray and gene ontology analysis demonstrated that numerous gene expression variations and signal activation, including Notch signaling, were altered in non-tumor and tumor lesions within this PIOC. Experiments with the GSK-3 inhibitor revealed that β-catenin pathway increased not only mRNA levels of ankyrin repeat domain1 (ANKRD1) but also protein levels of YAP and TAZ in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. These results suggested that further activation of YAP signaling by Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be associated with the development of PIOC arising from odontogenic keratocyst in which YAP signaling is activated.
Project description:We triggered the involvement of lncRNAs in odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs by incubation with SDF-1α. By LncRNA microarray, alterations in lncRNA expression at odontogenic differentiation inducted by 100ng/Ml SDF-1α were identified. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate several random upregulated and downregulated LncRNAs in the odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs. In addition, Gene ontology (GO) analysis and coding-noncoding gene coexpression (CNC) analysis were conducted to predict the interactions of coding and noncoding RNA and identify core regulatory factors in odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs.
Project description:Knockdown of endogenous GDF11 downregulated the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). We performed RNA-seq analysis on hDPSCs transfected with GDF11 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and control siRNA after 7 days of odontogenic induction, in order to investigate the underlying mechanisms of endogenous GDF11 regulating odontogenic differentiation in hDPSC.
Project description:Osteo/odontogenic differentiation is a key process of human stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) in tooth root development. Emerging evidence indicates microRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in osteogenesis. However, their functions in osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SCAP remain to be elucidated. We used miRNA microarray to analysis differentially expressed miRNAs in order to investigate the role of miRNAs in SCAP osteo/odontogenic differentiation and underlying mechanism.
Project description:Ascites or solid tumour from patients with ovarian cancer was collected and grown in culture as ex vivo models. Each sample has a mixture of tumour and stromal cells which were separated into individual cultures. Therefore each patient has tumour and stromal cultures originating from the same tissue collection. Variant calling (exome-seq) analysis was performed on these matched models to establish tumour specific mutations. Stromal cells were used to rule out germline mutations.