Project description:This project includes two species: American goldfinch (Spinus tristus) and black-capped chickadde (Poecile atricappila). Transcriptome
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly fatal disease with mortality running parallel to its incidence. For HCC patients, there is a statistically significant increase in incidence and mortality and a decrease in 5-year survival rates in African American (AA)/Black patients compared to non-Hispanic (white) patients. There is a gap of knowledge in our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the HCC racial disparity between AA/Black and white patients. To address this issue, we analyzed existing RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from HCC patients in the TCGA database, and performed RNA-seq in 14 white and 19 AA/Black HCC patients from Virginia Commonwealth University. In both analysis the only pathway which showed statistically significant activation in AA/Black patients, compared to white patients, was type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling. A four gene signature of IFN-I-stimulated genes (ISGs) showed increased expression in AA/Black HCC tumors compared to their white counterparts. HCC is a disease of chronic inflammation and IFN-I function as a pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine. These findings suggest a potential role of IFN-I in conferring disparity in AA/Black HCC patients.
Project description:Hibernating American black bears have significantly different clotting parameters than their active summer counterparts, affording them innate protection against venous thromboembolism (VTE) despite prolonged periods of immobility. Physiologic changes that occur during hibernation are thought to result from differential gene expression, rather than novel genes, and there is increasing evidence miRNAs may play an important role this regulation. We propose that significant differences exist in miRNA expression in the plasma of hibernating black bears compared to their active counter parts (summer), which lead to critical gene regulation responsible for auto-anticoagulation during hibernation. Methods: Blood was collected from 21 American black bears in the Northern Michigan Peninsula in summer 2017 and winter 2018 (11 active, 10 hibernating). Plasma was extracted Results: Fifteen miRNAs were differentially expressed in the plasma of hibernating black bears. Nine miRNAs were significantly downregulated (miR10b-3p, miR-136-3p, miR-181c-5p , miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-5p, miR-200c-3p, miR-320b, miR-320c and miR-320d) and six miRNAs were significantly upregulated (miR-15a-5p, miR-15b-3p, miR-15b-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-150-5p) during hibernation. Twelve miRNAs had no identifiable targets, but miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-5p and miR-200c-3p found to be targets of SERPINC1, the gene responsible for the production of antithrombin (AT). Conclusions: Several miRNAs were differentially expressed in hibernating bears (12). Most importantly miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-5p and miR-200c-3p were all downregulated in hibernation and associated with increased expression of SERPINC1 and production of AT. AT is a powerful anticoagulant and this finding may explain the hibernating black bears ability to achieve auto-anticoagulation and protection from VTE.
2020-09-01 | GSE124398 | GEO
Project description:Geographic diversity American black bears
Project description:Glomerular expression data from human kidney biopsy in African American subjects with glomerulopathies We used microarrays to analyze the transcriptome of African American subjects with glomerulopathies and the association of expression with APOL1 risk alleles (G1 and G2)