Project description:We compared gene expression among central memory (CD62L+CD127+; pop1), effector memory (CD62L-CD127+; pop2), and terminal effector (CD62L-CD127-; pop4) isolated from a single-cell-derived WT1-specific CD4+ T cell clone.
Project description:Interventions: A patient is vaccinated with Montanide ISA51-adjuvanted WT1 Trio cancer vaccine consisting of two WT1 CTL peptides (WT1-126 and WT1-235) and one WT1 HTL peptide (WT1-332) (2mg each) seven times at the interval of two weeks.
Primary outcome(s): Induction of WT1-specific immune responses assessed by WT1-related tests such as WT1-DTH skin reaction and serum levels of WT1 peptide IgG autoantibody at 1M, 2M, and 3M of WT1 Trio vaccine.
Study Design: Single arm Non-randomized
Project description:Interventions: A patient is vaccinated with Montanide ISA51-adjuvanted WT1 Trio cancer vaccine consisting of two WT1 CTL peptides (WT1-126 and WT1-235) and one WT1 HTL peptide (WT1-332) (2mg each) seven times at the interval of two to four weeks. The interval can be changed within a range from one to 16 weeks.
Primary outcome(s): Induction of WT1-specific immune responses assessed by WT1-related tests such as WT1-DTH skin reaction, serum levels of WT1 peptide IgG autoantibody, and frequency of WT1-CTL in PB * This is evaluated at the interval ranging from 6 to 12 months.
Study Design: Single arm Non-randomized
Project description:Transciptional heterogeneity of scar-orchestrating cells in liver fibrosis, defined by WT1 expression, after chronic tetrachloride injury in vivo (WT1-high and WT1-low) or activation in vitro (WT1-negative).
Project description:Activated hepatic stellate cells orchestrate scar formation during fibrotic liver injury. Recent evidence has shown limited quiescent precursor derivation from the mesoderm during development. Here, we use lineage-tracing from development, through adult homeostasis, to adult fibrotic injury, to show that discreet subpopulations of activated hepatic stellate cells are defined by expression of WT1, a transcription factor controlling morphological transitions in organogenesis and adult homeostasis. Morphologically and transcriptionally distinct subpopulations are evident in fibrotic human disease and animal models. Populations defined by WT1 expression after injury derive from a discreet population of quiescent adult precursors originating from the embryonic mesothelium. WT1-deletion permits morphological transition to an enhanced fibrotic myofibroblast phenotype. Our findings demonstrate functional heterogeneity of adult scar-forming cells that can be whole-life traced back through specific quiescent precursors in adult homeostasis to differential origin in development, and defines WT1 as a paradoxical anti-fibrotic regulator during adult injury.
Project description:During acute viral infections, naïve CD4+ T cells differentiate into effector CD4+ T cells and, after viral control, into memory CD4+ T cells. Memory CD4+ T cells are highly functional, proliferate rapidly upon reinfection and persist long-term without antigen. In contrast, during chronic infections, CD4+ T cells become less functional. To compare the development of functional memory T cells with poorly functional T cells from chronic viral infection, we generated longitudinal transcriptional profiles for each. Naive CD44Lo CD4+ T cells were isolated and sorted from uninfected C57BL/6 mice and H2-IAb GP66-specific CD4+ T cells were sorted using MHC-II tetramers at d6, 8, 15, and 30 p.i. with either LCMV Arm or LCMV clone 13. RNA from these CD4+ T cells was processed, amplified, labeled, and hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip MoGene 1.0 st microarrays.
Project description:K-ras is one of the most frequently mutated human oncogenes. Activation of K-ras can lead to either senescence or proliferation in primary cells. The precise mechanism governing these distinct outcomes remains unclear. Here we utilized a loss-of-function screen to assess the role of specific genes identified as potential key regulators of K-ras driven oncogenesis. Using this approach, we identify the transcription factor Wt1 as an inhibitor of senescence in primary cells expressing oncogenic K-ras. Deletion or suppression of Wt1 expression leads to senescence of primary cells expressing oncogenic K-ras under the control of the native promotor at physiological levels, but has no effect on cells expressing wild-type K-ras. Wt1 contributes to K-ras driven lung tumorigenesis in vivo and loss of Wt1 is specifically deleterious to human lung cancer cell lines that are dependent on oncogenic K-ras. Taken together, these observations reveal a novel role for Wt1 as a key regulator of the complex genetic network required for the oncogenic effect of the small GTPase K-ras. We compare the expression profiles of Wild type, K-ras mutant, Wt1-null, and double K-ras mutant/Wt1-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The study provides insights into the transcriptional role of Wt1 in the context of oncogenic K-ras.
Project description:Gain-of-function mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin (CTNNB1) are specific for Wilms' tumors that have lost WT1, but 50% of WT1-mutant cases lack such "hot spot" mutations. To ask whether stabilization of beta-catenin might be essential after WT1 loss, and to identify downstream target genes, we compared expression profiles in WT1-mutant versus WT1 wild-type Wilms' tumors. Supervised and nonsupervised hierarchical clustering of the expression data separated these two classes of Wilms' tumor. The WT1-mutant tumors overexpressed genes encoding myogenic and other transcription factors (MOX2, LBX1, SIM2), signaling molecules (TGFB2, FST, BMP2A), extracellular Wnt inhibitors (WIF1, SFRP4), and known beta-catenin/TCF targets (FST, CSPG2, CMYC). Beta-Catenin/TCF target genes were overexpressed in the WT1-mutant tumors even in the absence of CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations, and complete sequencing revealed gain-of-function mutations elsewhere in the CTNNB1 gene in some of these tumors, increasing the overall mutation frequency to 75%. Lastly, we identified and validated a novel direct beta-catenin target gene, GAD1, among the WT1-mutant signature genes. These data highlight two molecular classes of Wilms' tumor, and indicate strong selection for stabilization of beta-catenin in the WT1-mutant class. Beta-Catenin stabilization can initiate tumorigenesis in other systems, and this mechanism is likely critical in tumor formation after loss of WT1. Experiment Overall Design: Identification of WNT/Beta-Catenin or WT1 target genes. 39 individual samples.
Project description:SAGE and MPSS libraries were produced from the same RNA sample extracted from an activated CD4+ T cell clone in order to compare the ability of these techniques to indentify the full range of genes expressed in a single cell type. Keywords: Technical comparison of tag-based technologies SAGE and MPSS