Project description:Vil-CreERT2 was used to drive loss of APC (Adenomatous polyposis coli) in the murine intestinal epithelium. 4 days post induction, mice were sampled and 1cm of tissue from the proximal intestine was collected into RNA later. This was compared to control (wild-type) intestine. This analysis allows investigation of transcriptional changes following APC loss (and therefore activation of the WNT signalling pathway).
Project description:Constitutive activation of the Wnt pathway leads to adenoma formation, an obligatory step towards intestinal cancer. In view of the established role of Wnt in regulating stemness, we attempted the isolation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) from Apc- and Apc/KRAS-mutant intestinal tumours. Whereas CSCs are present in Apc/KRAS tumours, they appear to be very rare (<10(-6)) in the Apc-mutant adenomas. In contrast, the Lin(-)CD24(hi)CD29(+) subpopulation of adenocarcinoma cells appear to be enriched in CSCs with increased levels of active β-catenin. Expression profiling analysis of the CSC-enriched subpopulation confirmed their enhanced Wnt activity and revealed additional differential expression of other signalling pathways, growth factor binding proteins, and extracellular matrix components. As expected, genes characteristic of the Paneth cell lineage (e.g. defensins) are co-expressed together with stem cell genes (e.g. Lgr5) within the CSC-enriched subpopulation. This is of interest as it may indicate a cancer stem cell niche role for tumor-derived Paneth-like cells, similar to their role in supporting Lgr5(+) stem cells in the normal intestinal crypt. Overall, our results indicate that oncogenic KRAS activation in Apc-driven tumours results in the expansion of the CSCs compartment by increasing ®-catenin intracellular stabilization.
Project description:A profile of gene expression differences in mouse small intestine with and without short term induction of Apc and Eif3h deficiency.
Project description:A profile of gene expression differences in mouse small intestine with short term induction of Apc inactivation, in the presence and absence of additional mutations in combinations of Kras, Pik3ca, Pten, and Slc7a5.
Project description:To investigate the role of p53 in radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome, we performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of small intestine tissues from WT and p53-/- mice at 1 day post 12Gy total-body irradiation.
Project description:Nearly all colorectal cancers have dysregulated Wnt signalling, predominantly through the mutation of the Apc (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli) gene. Therefore it is of vital importance to elucidate the key Wnt target genes in intestinal cells in vivo. We have used a novel inducible cre-lox based murine system (designated ApcFlox) to investigate the consequences of perturbation of Wnt signalling following inactivation of Apc in vivo within 100% of the intestinal epithelium. We have employed microarray analysis at 3 time points within our ApcFlox system (Day 3 prior to the onset of phenotype, day 4 the establishment of the phenotype and day 5 gross phenotype of altered proliferation, differentiation and migration) and from adenomas arising in the ApcMin/+ background allowing us characterise Wnt/beta-catenin target genes based on their expression profiles during different stages of intestinal tumourigenesis. Furthermore, we have employed microarray analysis using livers from our ApcFlox system and have demonstrated that there is very little overlap in the Wnt target genes induced by Apc loss in the liver and the intestine. More importantly, we have been able to determine a novel set of putative Wnt/beta-catenin target genes which are upregulated at both early and late stages of tumourigenesis in the intestine and may represent novel therapeutic targets in colon cancer.
Project description:Nearly all colorectal cancers have dysregulated Wnt signalling, predominantly through the mutation of the Apc (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli) gene. Therefore it is of vital importance to elucidate the key Wnt target genes in intestinal cells in vivo. We have used a novel inducible cre-lox based murine system (designated ApcFlox) to investigate the consequences of perturbation of Wnt signalling following inactivation of Apc in vivo within 100% of the intestinal epithelium. We have employed microarray analysis at 3 time points within our ApcFlox system (Day 3 prior to the onset of phenotype, day 4 the establishment of the phenotype and day 5 gross phenotype of altered proliferation, differentiation and migration) and from adenomas arising in the ApcMin/+ background allowing us characterise Wnt/beta-catenin target genes based on their expression profiles during different stages of intestinal tumourigenesis. Furthermore, we have employed microarray analysis using livers from our ApcFlox system and have demonstrated that there is very little overlap in the Wnt target genes induced by Apc loss in the liver and the intestine. More importantly, we have been able to determine a novel set of putative Wnt/beta-catenin target genes which are upregulated at both early and late stages of tumourigenesis in the intestine and may represent novel therapeutic targets in colon cancer. Samples were collected from Genetcially modified mice of the genotypes indicated on the sample records. Where appropriate, gene recombination was induced using IP administration of beta-napthoflavone. Cohorts of samples were used to compare the affects of APC loss in the small intestine at three time points (and compared to matched control samples in which the gene was not recombined). Furthermore, these samples were compared to colonic polyps (and normal colon) taken from the Apcmin Mouse.
Project description:RNAseq of different subpopulations of RPE1 cells expressing predictive reporter construct, pre- and on Day 6 post-induction with 4OHT
Project description:To survey the proteome of osteoclast secretory lysosomes, we used superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to enrich for these endo-lysosomal-related organelles from murine osteoclast cultures. Briefly, large scale murine bone marrow monocyte (BMM)-derived osteoclast cultures were ‘pulsed’ with SPIONs to encourage uptake into endosomes and then ‘chased’ into secretory lysosomes upon the convergence of SPION-loaded endosomes with lysosomes and secretory pathways. Following the ‘pulse-chase’, osteoclasts were homogenized, SPION-loaded organelles captured-from post-nuclear supernatants using magnetic columns, and enriched organelles eluted and processed for 1D in-gel digestion and mass spectrometry.