Project description:Bile acid (BA) homeostasis is maintained through a feedback loop operated by the nuclear hormone receptors FXR and SHP. Here we show that contrary to the current models placing FXR upstream of SHP in a linear regulatory pathway, the phenotypic consequence of the combined loss of both receptors is much more severe than the relatively modest impact of the loss of either Fxr or Shp alone. This is highlighted by the dramatic elevation of hepatic and serum BA levels in the double knockout (DKO) mice as early as three weeks of age coupled with a commensurate increase in Cyp7A1 expression and alterations in BA homeostatic genes. In addition, we find several genes necessary for C21 steroid biosynthetic pathway as novel targets for FXR and SHP. The elevated BAs result in severe hepato-pathology but the DKO mice surprisingly do not develop complete liver failure and live for over a year. Their survival is accompanied by an adaptive proliferation of the resident liver progenitor cell population, known as oval cells. Overall, these data demonstrate that FXR and SHP function coordinately to maintain BA homeostasis, and identify DKO mice as a novel genetic model for juvenile cholestatic disorders and for oval cell activation. Liver samples collected from FXR-/-, SHP-/-, and FXR-/-/SHP-/- animals at 3 or 5 weeks were hybridized to Illumina mouse REF-8 v1.1 arrays in duplicate.
Project description:We performed high-throughput RNA-sequencing on livers from hepatocyte specific Fxr-/- Shp-/- double knockout mice, and identified upregulation of N-glycan protein modification machinery. This correlated positively with Golgi structural defects and alterations in the hepatic secretome. This study identifies a new role for hepatic FXR-SHP axis in Golgi dynamics and N-glycosylation, apart from its traditional function in nutrient metabolism.
Project description:Bile acid (BA) homeostasis is maintained through a feedback loop operated by the nuclear hormone receptors FXR and SHP. Here we show that contrary to the current models placing FXR upstream of SHP in a linear regulatory pathway, the phenotypic consequence of the combined loss of both receptors is much more severe than the relatively modest impact of the loss of either Fxr or Shp alone. This is highlighted by the dramatic elevation of hepatic and serum BA levels in the double knockout (DKO) mice as early as three weeks of age coupled with a commensurate increase in Cyp7A1 expression and alterations in BA homeostatic genes. In addition, we find several genes necessary for C21 steroid biosynthetic pathway as novel targets for FXR and SHP. The elevated BAs result in severe hepato-pathology but the DKO mice surprisingly do not develop complete liver failure and live for over a year. Their survival is accompanied by an adaptive proliferation of the resident liver progenitor cell population, known as oval cells. Overall, these data demonstrate that FXR and SHP function coordinately to maintain BA homeostasis, and identify DKO mice as a novel genetic model for juvenile cholestatic disorders and for oval cell activation.
Project description:We created mice, which are deficient for Myc specifically in cardiac myocytes by crossing crossed Myc-floxed mice (Mycfl/fl) and MLC-2VCre/+ mice. Serial analysis of earlier stages of gestation revealed that Myc-deficient mice died prematurely at E13.5-14.5. Morphological analyses of E13.5 Myc-null embryos showed normal ventricular size and structure; however, decreased cardiac myocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis was observed. BrdU incorporation rates were also decreased significantly in Myc-null myocardium. Myc-null mice displayed a 3.67-fold increase in apoptotic cardiomyocytes by TUNEL assay. We examined global gene expression using oligonucleotide microarrays. Numerous genes involved in mitochondrial death pathways were dysregulated including Bnip3L and Birc2. Keywords: wildtype vs Myc-null
Project description:We created mice, which are deficient for Myc specifically in cardiac myocytes by crossing crossed Myc-floxed mice (Mycfl/fl) and MLC-2VCre/+ mice. Serial analysis of earlier stages of gestation revealed that Myc-deficient mice died prematurely at E13.5-14.5. Morphological analyses of E13.5 Myc-null embryos showed normal ventricular size and structure; however, decreased cardiac myocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis was observed. BrdU incorporation rates were also decreased significantly in Myc-null myocardium. Myc-null mice displayed a 3.67-fold increase in apoptotic cardiomyocytes by TUNEL assay. We examined global gene expression using oligonucleotide microarrays. Numerous genes involved in mitochondrial death pathways were dysregulated including Bnip3L and Birc2. Hearts were taken from wide type and Myc-null Mouse embryos at E13.5 under the dissecting scope. Cardiac myocyte RNA was isolated using TRIZOL®Reagent Total RNA (100 ng) was hybridized to the Sentrix® MouseRef-8 Expression BeadChip that contains probes for ~24,000 transcripts. GeneChips were scanned using the Hewlett-Packard GeneArray Scanner G2500A. The data were analyzed with Illumina Inc. BeadStudio version 1.5.0.34 and normalized by rank invariant method.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
Project description:Cholestasis is a multifactorial disorder that compromises liver function. We wanted to examine Phase I and II drug metabolism in cholestatic livers. We performed high-throughput sequencing on livers from Fxr-/- Shp-/- double knockout mice, which mimic juvenile cholestasis. Next, we used comparative transcriptomic approach to test if the induction in drug metabolism is also seen in models of liver injury, including steatosis, regeneration and bile acid-stressed livers.