Project description:Mutations in TGFBR2, a component of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway, occur in high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC). In mouse models, Tgfbr2 inactivation in the intestinal epithelium accelerates the development of malignant intestinal tumors in combination with disruption of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. However, no studies have further identified the genes influenced by TGFBR2 inactivation following disruption of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. We previously described CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox mice, which is stochastically null for Apc in the colon epithelium. In this study, we generated CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox;Tgfbr2flox/flox mice, with simultaneous loss of Apc and Tgfbr2. These mice developed tumors, including adenocarcinoma in the proximal colon. We compared gene expression profiles between tumors of the two types of mice using microarray analysis.
Project description:Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations are found in 30–40% of human colorectal cancers (CRC). However, specific therapeutics against KRAS-mutated CRC have not been established. We have previously reported mouse models for colon cancer with and without Kras mutations (CDX2P-G22Cre;Apcflox/flox; KrasG12D and CDX2P-G22Cre;Apcflox/flox mice, respectively). Herein, we aimed to identify candidate genes as novel therapeutic targets or biomarkers for KRAS-mutated CRC by comparing the gene expression profiles of these two mouse models.
Project description:For organoid preparation, we first treated the following 4 groups of 8-12 week old mice with tamoxifen: 1) CDX2P-CreERT2, Apc flox/+, Kras LSL-G12D/+, Trp53 flox/flox mice (n=2); 2) CDX2P-CreERT2, Apc flox/+, Kras LSL-G12D/+,Trp53 R270H/flox mice (n=3); 3) CDX2P-CreERT2, Apc flox/flox mice (n=3); 4) Wild-type control mice (n=4). The CDX2P-CreERT2 transgene expresses a tamoxifen (TAM)-regulated Cre protein (CreERT2) under control of human CDX2 regulatory sequences, allowing for TAM-inducible targeting of flox alleles in adult mouse terminal ileum, cecum, and colon epithelium. Treating the mice having CDX2P-CreERT2 transgene with tamoxifen permits the Cre recombinase to enter the cell nucleus and recombine the floxed alleles for Apc, Kras, and Trp53, resulting in deletion mutations in Apc and Trp53, and an activating, oncogenic mutation in Kras (G12D mutation). The Trp53 R270H allele carries a constitutive R270H mutation, which is the mouse equivalent of human TP53 R273H mutation. Colon tumors were induced by TAM treatment in all the mice from the first three groups and organoids were derived from the tumors of each mouse. We also derived organoids from the normal colon epithelium in the 4th group of mice as controls. All organoids were generated and propagated using a slightly modified TMDU protocol as described in PMID:20872391. Organoids were cultured for 4 days and then harvested. RNA was purified from the organoids, and targets for Affymetrix arrays were synthesized from the mRNAs. We used Affymetrix Mouse Gene 2.1 ST plate arrays, which hold 41345 probe-sets, but we largely analyzed just those 24562 probe-sets that were mapped to Entrez gene IDs. Raw data was processed with the Robust Multi-array Average algorithm (RMA). Data is log2-transformed transcript abundance estimates. We fit a one-way ANOVA model to the 4 groups of samples. We supply a supplementary excel workbook that holds the same data as the data matrix file for those 24562 probe-sets, but also holds the probe-set annotation at the time we analyzed the data, and some simple statistical calculations, which selects subsets of the probe-sets as differentially expressed between pairs of groups. It also shows data and analysis from a separate experiment of RNA purified directly from 3 groups of mice with genotypes like those of the organoid data except that no group of mice with CDX2P-CreERT2 Apc flox/flox genotype were used. It also joins a statistical summary of differences between 9 human tumors with TP53 missense mutations at codon 273 and 36 tumors with TP53 null mutations assayed with RNA-seq by the TCGA project. A separate supplementary file of the TCGA data is also provided. Consumers should consider obtaining more up-to-date probe-set annotation for the array platform.
Project description:We treated the following 3 groups of 8-16 week old mice with tamoxifen: 1) CDX2P-CreERT2, Apc flox/+, Kras LSL-G12D/+, Trp53 flox/flox mice (n=6); 2) CDX2P-CreERT2, Apc flox/+, Kras LSL-G12D/+,Trp53 R270H/flox mice (n=6); 3) Wild-type control mice (n=3). The CDX2P-CreERT2 transgene expresses a tamoxifen (TAM)-regulated Cre protein (CreERT2) under control of human CDX2 regulatory sequences, allowing for TAM-inducible targeting of flox alleles in adult mouse terminal ileum, cecum, and colon epithelium. Treating the mice having CDX2P-CreERT2 transgene with tamoxifen permits the Cre recombinase to enter the cell nucleus and recombine the floxed alleles for Apc, Kras, and Trp53, resulting in deletion mutations in Apc and Trp53, and an activating, oncogenic mutation in Kras (G12D mutation). The Trp53 R270H allele carries a constitutive R270H mutation, which is the mouse equivalent of human TP53 R273H mutation. Laser capture microdissection was used to obtain adenocarcinoma tissue samples from the first two groups of mice and normal tissue from control mice. RNA was purified and targets for Affymetrix arrays were synthesized from the mRNAs. We used Affymetrix Mouse Gene 2.1 ST plate arrays, which hold 41345 probe-sets, but we largely analyzed just those 24562 probe-sets that were mapped to Entrez gene IDs. Raw data was processed with the Robust Multi-array Average algorithm (RMA). Data is log2-transformed transcript abundance estimates. We fit a one-way ANOVA model to the 3 groups of samples. We supply a supplementary excel workbook that holds the same data as the data matrix file for those 24562 probe-sets, but also holds the probe-set annotation at the time we analyzed the data, and some simple statistical calculations, which selects subsets of the probe-sets as differentially expressed between pairs of groups. It also shows data and analysis from a separate experiment of RNA purified from organoids cultured from samples from 3 groups of mice similar to those here, as well as an extra group of mice with CDX2P-CreERT2 Apc flox/flox genotype. It also joins a statistical summary of differences between 9 human tumors with TP53 missense mutations at codon 273 and 36 tumors with TP53 null mutations assayed with RNA-seq by the TCGA project. A separate supplementary file of the TCGA data is also provided. Consumers should consider obtaining more up-to-date probe-set annotation for the array platform.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles-including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.
Project description:Translational research is commonly performed in the C57B6/J mouse strain, chosen for its genetic homogeneity and phenotypic uniformity. Here, we evaluate the suitability of the white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) as a model organism for aging research, offering a comparative analysis against C57B6/J and diversity outbred (DO) Mus musculus strains. Our study includes comparisons of body composition, skeletal muscle function, and cardiovascular parameters, shedding light on potential applications and limitations of P. leucopus in aging studies. Notably, P. leucopus exhibits distinct body composition characteristics, emphasizing reduced muscle force exertion and a unique metabolism, particularly in fat mass. Cardiovascular assessments showed changes in arterial stiffness, challenging conventional assumptions and highlighting the need for a nuanced interpretation of aging-related phenotypes. Our study also highlights inherent challenges associated with maintaining and phenotyping P. leucopus cohorts. Behavioral considerations, including anxiety-induced responses during handling and phenotyping assessment, pose obstacles in acquiring meaningful data. Moreover, the unique anatomy of P. leucopus necessitates careful adaptation of protocols designed for Mus musculus. While showcasing potential benefits, further extensive analyses across broader age ranges and larger cohorts are necessary to establish the reliability of P. leucopus as a robust and translatable model for aging studies.
Project description:To investigate the differences in microRNA expression profiles between fibrotic and normal livers, we performed microRNA microarrays for total RNA extracts isolated from mouse livers treated with carbontetrachloride (CCl4) or corn-oil for 10 weeks (n=3/group). MicroRNAs were considered to have significant differences in expression level when the expression difference showed more than two-fold change between the experimental and control groups at p<0.05. We found that 12 miRNAs were differentially expressed in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver.