Project description:Our genome wide analyses of microRNA expression profiles involve the hybridization of fluorescently labeled RNA samples to custom made, DNA microarrays based on the GAPSII coated slides. We describe a simple and effective method to regenerate such custom microarrays. Our protocol entails the use of a very low concentration of sodium hydroxide in a low salt buffer to strip RNA molecules from the arrays. The solution is also capable of removing DNA molecules hybridized to the slides, while preserving the slide coating and printed DNA probes. Slides can be stripped and reused at least twice without significantly sacrificing data quality. Keywords: expression study, new vs. stripped array comparison There are two stripping conditions in this study (1mM NaOH and 2mM NaOH in SSC buffer). For 1mM NaOH treatment, new, once-, twice-, and triple-stripped arrays are studies. For 2mM NaOH treatment, new and once-stripped arrays are measured.
Project description:Our genome wide analyses of microRNA expression profiles involve the hybridization of fluorescently labeled RNA samples to custom made, DNA microarrays based on the GAPSII coated slides. We describe a simple and effective method to regenerate such custom microarrays. Our protocol entails the use of a very low concentration of sodium hydroxide in a low salt buffer to strip RNA molecules from the arrays. The solution is also capable of removing DNA molecules hybridized to the slides, while preserving the slide coating and printed DNA probes. Slides can be stripped and reused at least twice without significantly sacrificing data quality. Keywords: expression study, new vs. stripped array comparison
Project description:Use of tape stripping for the collection of stratum corneum is a versatile and reliable procedure for the evaluation of the human skin health, including assessments of the skin barrier function, microbial content, and disease biomarkers. The tape stripping procedure is widely referenced; however, the number and type of tapes required for sample collection vary considerably, and the lack of standardized sampling, processing and normalization protocols complicate data comparison and interpretation. We have compared the performances of two commonly used non-invasive skin sampling platforms by collecting skin tissue from 34 healthy volunteers and applying standardization throughout the workflow, from sampling to data analysis. Our results showed significant differences in the amounts of tissue collected per tape, erythema levels, RNA and protein yields. RNA extracts from both platforms were suitable for sequencing; comparable input and quality of reads were produced for both test groups, however significant differences were found in the percentage of uniquely mapped reads and detected genes. This data highlights processing optimization as an important step in maximizing the efficiency of biomolecule extraction from tape strips and further presents a tape stripping method suitable for fast, efficient, and non-invasive epidermal tissue collection applicable to skin biomarker discovery.
Project description:The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of how well tape-stripping paired with high resolution RNA-sequencing captures the global transcriptomic changes in psoriasis.
Project description:Stem cell differentiation strategies and optimization for generating lineage-specific cells and tissues most frequently rely on a three-dimensional embryoid body (EB) intermediate. We previously applied nanotechnology tools of photolithography to generate custom microarrays that allow high throughput uniform formation of EBs of custom size for precise downstream analysis. Formation of EBs of 200 or 500 micron size revealed distinct morphological differences that are single or multicystic cores, respectively, independent of method of formation from single cells or two-dimensional (2D) clusters. Here we utilize photolithographic array generated EBs to obtain 3D cultures under a standardized platform for transcriptome analysis to compare EB size and the method of EB formation from single cells or mechanically passaged 2D clusters. Our analysis evaluates RNA expression in EBs formed from the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line WA09 and from ethnically diverse human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (ED-iPSC) of African American and Hispanic Latino ethnicity recently derived in our laboratory. This is the first comprehensive study on EB transcriptomes including multiple size parameters, EB formation methodologies, and ethnicities. Our analysis indicates upregulation of genes involved in wound healing for mechanically passaged cells and of genes for embryonic tube formation in 500 micron multicystic EBs. We propose that EB maturation may be a longer process then previously realized. In addition, the type or extent of maturation possible may be influenced by EB size, with larger EBs capable of more extensive remodeling as revealed by multicystic morphology and initiation of early tube formation pathways while retaining pluripotency status. We anticipate that this information will be broadly useful to the stem cell and bioengineering communities in optimization of tissue engineering with pluripotent stem cells and understanding sources of variation.
Project description:Background: Skin biopsies represent a gold standard in skin immunology and pathology but can cause pain and induce scarring. Non-invasive techniques will facilitate study recruitment of e.g. patients with pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD), hand eczema or facial dermatitis. Objective: By RNA sequencing, we examined whether the stratum corneum transcriptome in AD skin can be assessed by tape stripping, as compared to the epidermal transcriptome of AD in skin biopsies. To make the procedure clinically relevant tape strips were stored and shipped at room temperature for up to 3 days. Methods: Nine adult Caucasian AD patients and three healthy volunteers were included. Tape samples were collected from non-lesional and lesional skin. Biopsies were collected from lesional skin and were split into epidermis and dermis. Total RNA was extracted, and shotgun sequencing was performed. Results: Shotgun sequencing could be performed on skin cells obtained from two consecutive tape strips which had been stored and shipped at room temperature for up to three days. The most prominent differences between the tape strip and biopsy derived transcriptome were due to structural genes, while established molecular markers of AD, including CCL17, CCL22, IL17A and S100A7-S100A9, were also identified in tape strip samples. Furthermore, the tape strip derived transcriptome showed promise in also analysing the skin microbiome. Conclusion: Our study shows that the stratum corneum (SC) transcriptome of AD can be assessed by tape stripping the skin, supporting that this method may be central in future skin biomarker research.