Project description:Endometrial gland cultures were established from human non-pregnant endometrium and decidua. We analysed the global gene expression profile of the human endometrial gland organoid cultures to assess the similarity of their molecular signature to the tissue of origin. Organoid cultures established from decidua were also included in the analysis to assess their similarity to endometrial dervied cultures.
Project description:The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is characterized by agenesis of the uterus and upper part of the vagina in females with normal ovarian function. The cause of the disease is still enigmatic. Here, we developed organoid cultures from endometrium found in uterine rudiment horns of MRKH patients. Phenotypically they share great similarity between healthy control organoids and are fully hormone responsive. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq identified possible disease-causing pathways altered in MRKH patients during development of the female reproductive tract. Thus, the organoid cultures provide a powerful research model for further insight into disease-causing alterations.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of stimulation of human endometrial organoids with estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) In humans, the endometrium, the uterine mucosal lining, undergoes dynamic changes throughout the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy. We adapted conditions used to establish human adult stem cell-derived organoid cultures to generate 3D cultures of human endometrium. Unlike other mucosal epithelia, the endometrium responds dramatically to ovarian sex hormones, estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4), which regulate cyclical proliferation and differentiation of endometrial glands with concomitant dynamic temporal and spatial expression of their receptors, ERalpha and PR.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.