Project description:We identified 112 known genes and 150 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) showing more than a 1.3 fold change in target-exposed neurons compared to neurons grown in the absence of target. Expression of 36 genes and 49 ESTs was upregulated, while expression of 76 genes and 101 ESTs was downregulated by the presence of target during the culture period. Overall, these changes represented approximately 1.6% of the probe set. Experiment Overall Design: We investigated the molecular basis of the target-regulated growth inhibition program using DNA microarrays to analyze patterns of gene expression following contact of sympathetic neurons with their myocyte targets. Total RNA was isolated from sympathetic neurons cultured alone and from neurons isolated from myocyte co-cultures. The two neuron populations showed minimal levels of atrial natriutic peptide (ANF) mRNA, a myocyte marker, compared to myocyte-containing cultures, indicating a low level of myocyte contamination for neurons purified from co-cultures. Experiment Overall Design: Isolated total RNA was reverse transcribed, labeled with biotin by in vitro transcription and hybridized to an Affymetrix Rat Expression Set 230A microarray with 15,900 probe sets. The hybridized microarray was washed, stained, scanned and quantified using DNA-Chip Analyzer (dChip) 1.3 (Li and Wong, 2001).
Project description:Inflammation is a key component of pathological angiogenesis. Here we induce cornea neovascularisation using sutures placed into the cornea, and sutures are removed to induce a regression phase. We used whole transcriptome microarray to monitor gene expression profies of several genes
Project description:Few studies have assessed the patterns of parasite populations of rodents over a longitudinal gradient in Chile. In this work, the gastrointestinal helminthic fauna of invasive rodents in Chile was examined to assess the association between their presence/absence and abundance with latitude, host sex, and host body condition, and to assess the coexistence and correlation of the abundance between parasite species. Rodents were obtained from 20 localities between 33 and 43°S. Helminths were extracted from the gastrointestinal tract and identified morphologically. Overall, 13 helminth taxa were obtained. The most frequently identified parasite species was Heterakis spumosa, and the most abundant was Syphacia muris, while Physaloptera sp. was the most widely distributed. No locality presented with a coexistence that was different from that expected by chance, while the abundance of five helminthic species correlated with the abundance of another in at least one locality, most likely due to co-infection rather than interaction. Host sex was associated with parasite presence or abundance, and female sex-biased parasitism was notably observed in all cases. Body condition and latitude presented either a positive or negative association with the presence or abundance of parasites depending on the species. It is notable that the likely native Physaloptera sp. is widely distributed among invasive rodents. Further, gravid females were found, suggesting spillback of this species to the native fauna. The low frequency and abundance of highly zoonotic hymenolepid species suggest that rodents are of low concern regarding gastrointestinal zoonotic helminths.
Project description:Living organisms are intricate systems with dynamic internal processes. Their RNA, protein, and metabolite levels fluctuate in response to variations in health and environmental conditions. Among these, RNA expression is particularly accessible for comprehensive analysis, thanks to the evolution of high throughput sequencing technologies in recent years. This progress has enabled researchers to identify unique RNA patterns associated with various diseases, as well as to develop predictive and prognostic biomarkers for therapy response. Such cross-sectional studies allow for the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups, but they have limitations. Specifically, they often fail to capture the temporal changes in gene expression following individual perturbations and may lead to significant false discoveries due to inherent noise in RNA sequencing sample preparation and data collection. To address these challenges, our study hypothesized that frequent, longitudinal RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis of blood samples could offer a more profound understanding of the temporal dynamics of gene expression in response to drug interventions, while also enhancing the accuracy of identifying genes influenced by these drugs. In this research, we conducted RNAseq on 829 blood samples collected from 84 Sprague-Dawley lab rats. Excluding the control group, each rat was administered one of four different compounds known for liver toxicity: tetracycline, isoniazid, valproate, and carbon tetrachloride. We developed specialized bioinformatics tools to pinpoint genes that exhibit temporal variation in response to these treatments.
Project description:Gene expression patterns following unilateral traumatic brain injury reveals a local pro-inflammatory and remote anti-inflammatory response
Project description:Developing sympathetic neurons depend on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival and die by apoptosis after NGF withdrawal. This process requires de novo gene expression but only a small number of genes induced by NGF deprivation have been identified so far. We have used Affymetrix Exon arrays to study the pattern of expression of all known genes in sympathetic neurons deprived of NGF. We identified 415 up- and 813 down-regulated genes, including most of the genes previously known to be regulated in this system. By including a mixed lineage kinase (MLK) inhibitor, CEP-11004, in our experimental design we identified which of the genes induced after NGF withdrawal are potential targets of the MLK-JNK-c-Jun pathway. A detailed Gene Ontology and functional enrichment analysis also identified genetic pathways, such as the ER unfolded protein response, that are highly enriched and overrepresented amongst the genes expressed after NGF withdrawal whilst hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four major patterns of gene expression. Five genes not previously studied in sympathetic neurons - trb3, ddit3, txnip, ndrg1 and mxi1 - were validated by real time-PCR. The proteins encoded by these genes also increased in level after NGF withdrawal and this increase was prevented by CEP-11004, suggesting that these genes are potential targets of the MLK-JNK-c-Jun pathway. Overall, our microarray data gives a comprehensive overview of, and provides new information about, signalling pathways and transcription factors that are regulated by NGF withdrawal and identifies potential targets of the MLK-JNK-c-Jun pathway in sympathetic neurons