Project description:Single-nucleus RNA-seq was performed to characterize the transcriptomes of cell types in human subcutaneous adipose tissue. Biopsies from 16 Finnish participants from the Finnish Twin Study and CRYO study were included.
Project description:Gene expression profiling was carried out on peripheral blood mononuclear cell mRNA samples collected from 93 older adults participating in the Chicago Health Aging and Social Relations Study (CHASRS). The primary research question is whether gene expression differs in participants who are chronically lonely. Keywords: Risk prediction Gene expression profiling was carried out on peripheral blood mononuclear cell mRNA samples collected from 93 older adults participating in the Chicago Health Aging and Social Relations Study (CHASRS). The primary research question is whether gene expression differs in participants who are chronically lonely.
Project description:Individual differences in peripheral blood transcriptomes in older adults as a function of demographic, socio-economic, psychological, and health history characteristics.
Project description:Depression is a complex and multifactorial disease, affecting about 6.5% of the elderly population in what is referred to as late-life depression (LLD). Despite its public health relevance, there is still limited information about the molecular mechanisms of LLD. We analyzed the blood plasma of 50 older adults through untargeted mass spectrometry and used systems biology tools to identify biochemical pathways and biological processes dysregulated in the disease. We found 96 differentially expressed proteins between LLD patients and control individuals. Using elastic-net regression, we generated a panel of 75 proteins that comprises a potential model for determining the molecular signature of LLD. We also showed that biological pathways related to vesicle-mediated transport and voltage-dependent calcium channels may be dysregulated in LLD. These data can help to build an understanding of the molecular basis of LLD, offering an integrated view of the biomolecular alterations that occur in this disorder.
Project description:Background Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects the human respiratory tract and causes pertussis or whooping cough. The disease has resurged in many countries including Finland where the whole-cell pertussis vaccine has been used for more than 50 years. Antigenic divergence has been observed between vaccine strains and clinical isolates in Finland. To better understand genome evolution in B. pertussis circulating in the immunized population, we developed an oligonucleotide-based microarray for comparative genomic analysis of Finnish strains isolated during the period of 50 years. Methodology/Principal Findings The microarray consisted of 3,582 oligonucleotides (70-mer) and covered 94% of the genome of Tohama I, the strain of which the genome has been sequenced [21]. Twenty isolates from 1953 to 2004 were studied together with two Finnish vaccine strains and two international reference strains. The isolates were selected according to their characteristics, e.g. the year and place of isolation and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. Genomic DNA of the tested strains, along with reference DNA of Tohama I strain, was labelled and hybridized. The absence of genes as established with microarrays, was confirmed by PCR. Compared to the Tohama I strain, Finnish isolates lost 7 (8.6 kb) to 49 (55.3 kb) genes, clustered in one to four distinct loci. The number of lost genes increased with time, and one third of lost genes had functions related to ion transport, metabolism, or energy production and conversion. All four loci of lost genes were flanked by the insertion sequence element IS481. Conclusion/Significance Our results showed that the progressive gene loss occurred in Finnish B. pertussis strains isolated during a period of 50 years and confirmed that B. pertussis is dynamic and is continuously evolving, suggesting that the bacterium may use gene loss as one strategy to adapt to highly immunized populations. Keywords: comparetive genomic hybridisation
Project description:The FINRISK cohorts comprise the respondents of representative, cross-sectional population
surveys that are carried out every 5 years since 1972, to assess the risk factors of chronic
diseases (e.g. CVD, diabetes, obesity, cancer) and health behavior in the working age
population, in 3-5 large study areas of Finland. DNA samples were collected in the following
survey years: 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012. The MONICA and EHES (EU)
procedures were applied in phenotype collection (cf. MORGAM) and a wide spectrum of
laboratory tests was carried out from serum and plasma samples. Background information on
socioeconomic status, medical history, diet, exercise, measured anthropometric measures,
etc. was collected by questionnaires and during a clinical visit. Plasma/serum samples are
still available for the 2002-2012 cohorts. The cohort sizes are 6000-8800 per survey. The
cohorts have been followed up by linking them to the national hospital discharge register,
causes-of-death register and cancer register.
This project is an extension to previous efforts to build a catalogue of Finnish genome wide
data on population-based Finsrisk samples with rich phenotypic characterisations and health
registry link-up. These samples will extend the current Sequencing Initiative Suomi (SISu)
samples with a combination of genotyping using Illumina HumanCoreExome array and SISu-
based imputation. This will lead to high confidence common and low frequency variant
catalogue. The project will be funded by Aarno Palotie’s remaining faculty funds
complemented by Finnish funding from FIMM.
Project description:Vitamin D insufficiency may exacerbate non-specific inflammation observed in older adults. Here, we tested the hypothesis that an inflammatory gene signature present in old skin following saline injection (as model for non-specific needle injury) normalizes after oral vitamin D3 supplementation. To define the saline-induced signature, we compared gene expression in skin biopsies taken six hours after saline injection in old adults (≥65 years) to biopsies from unmanipulated skin. We then assessed signature expression in saline-injected skin of old and young adults (<40 years), and in paired samples of old adults before and after oral vitamin D3 supplementation (6400 IU/day for 14 weeks), where median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased from 43 nmol/L (interquartile range 36-53 nmol/L) to 131 nmol/L (interquartile range 115-147 nmol/L). This submission comprises 112 samples from 57 individuals.
Project description:Gastrocnemius muscle biopsies were obtained from 15 health older adults without peripheral artery disease (PAD), 20 PAD patients with intermittent claudication, and 16 patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing limb amputation. Gene expression analysis was performed using RNA sequencing analysis.