Project description:Hair shape is defined in the follicle: large hair follicles produce ‘terminal’ hairs, small follicles produce fine ‘vellus’ hairs, curved follicles produce curly hair in all ethnicities, according to the available literature. In order to understand better how shape is determined in the follicle and complement the publically available knowledge on hair shape genetics, our research group undertook a global high-throughput approach to compare the levels of gene expression among straight and very curly hair. The microarray was the methodology chosen. A list of the transcripts differently expressed that pass the statistical two independent groups test including correction for multiple testing (Bonferroni-Hochberg with 0.05 cut-off) was obtained. From 85 genes that were significantly different 68 genes were more expressed in very curly hair follicles and 17 genes were more expressed in straight hair follicles.
Project description:Here, Single-cell suspensions from the wavy wool and straight wool lambskins were prepared for unbiased single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Based on UAMP analysis, we identified 19 distinct populations from 15,830 single-cell transcriptomes and delineated their cellular identity from specific gene expression profiles. Furtherly, novel marker gene was applied in identifying dermal papilla cells isolated in vitro. By using pseudotime ordering analysis, we successfully constructed the epithelium cell lineage differentiation trajectory and revealed the dynamic gene expression profiles of matrix progenitors’ commitment to the hair shaft and inner root sheath (IRS) cells. Meanwhile, intercellular communication between different cell populations was inferred based on CellChat and the priori knowledge of ligand-receptor pairs, as a result strong intercellular communication and associated signaling pathways were revealed. Besides, to clarify the molecular mechanism of wool curvature, differentially expressed genes in specific cells between straight wool and curly wool were identified and analyzed. Our findings here provide unbiased and systematic view of transcriptional organization of sheep hair follicle, reveal the differentiation and spatial signatures underlying sheep hair follicle heterogeneity and wool curvature, which will provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular pathways involved in sheep hair follicle development.
Project description:Comparison of embryo caudal region at E10.5 (28-29 somites) from curly tail (Grhl3 hypomorph) and wild-type (Grhl3 +/+) (97% congenic) embryos.
Project description:Hair follicles (HF) and BCCs can be regarded as ordered and disordered skin appendages respectively and may utilize similar molecular mechanisms of growth. We wanted to examine the similarities and differences in gene expression patterns between BCCs and HF to define common growth mechanisms and gene expression patterns that distinguish an ordered skin appendage from a disordered skin growth. Nodular BCCs (n= 8) and non-follicular skin epithelium (n=8) were obtained. Scalp hair follicle root sheath was micro dissected from between the sebaceous gland duct and the lower one third of the HF (n=7). Microarray analysis was performed using 21K cDNA arrays and selected genes were validated using qPCR and histochemistry staining. Two differentially expressed gene sets were identified by significance analysis of microarray (SAM) in BCC and HF verses skin epithelium respectively. Based on these two lists, we conducted multiple signaling pathway analyses. The results indicated that Notch, hedgehog, and WNT signaling pathways were involved in regulating formation of both HF and BCCs. However, Notch signaling, including tumor suppressor genes Notch 1, Notch 2, Jagged ligands (JAG 1, 2), notch signaling inhibitor NUMB, Lunatic Fringe (LFNG), Deltex proteins (DTX 1, 2) which serve as important signaling components downstream of Notch, and Notch target genes HES1 ,RBPSUHL, hairless protein and HES7, all showed selective differential activation in BCCs compared to HF. The components of the notch signaling pathway may be potential new targets in the development of new therapeutic approaches to BCCs. samples of human hair follicles (n=7) were collected from scalp biopsies of normal individuals undergoing cosmetic procedures while nodular BCCs (n=8) and normal skin (n=8) were obtained from patients undergoing surgical resection. Only patients that had not been treated with preoperative chemotherapy or other therapeutic approaches were selected. All samples were provided by the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia with approval from the University Clinical Research Ethics Board. Hair follicles were microdissected to remove the lower one third, including the hair bulb, leaving the root sheaths including the bulge region. Normal skin samples were microdissected to isolate skin epithelium from the dermal component. All nodular BCC samples and normal skin epithelium were taken from the facial area of donors. Collected samples were immediately stored in an RNA stabilization reagent (Qiagen Inc, Mississauga, ON). BCC morphological subtypes were described and clinically classified during surgery and clinical diagnoses were confirmed by formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded histological assessment of the tumors. Human Operon v.2.1 (21K) glass arrays were produced (based on human 70mers from Operon Biotechnologies Inc, Huntsville, AL) by the Microarray Facility of the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada [17, 18]. RNAs were amplified using the SenseAmp Plus kit (Genisphere Inc, Hatfield, PA). The calculated A 260/280 ratio was used to determine the appropriate amount of sense RNA for labeling. Total RNA from test samples and universal human reference RNA (Stratagene, Cedar Creek, TX) were differentially labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 respectively, with the 3DNA array detection 350 kit (Genisphere Inc, Hatfield, PA) and cohybridized to cDNA microarrays. Following overnight hybridization and washing, arrays were imaged using a ScanArray Express scanner (PerkinElmer, Boston, MA).
Project description:Hair follicles (HF) and BCCs can be regarded as ordered and disordered skin appendages respectively and may utilize similar molecular mechanisms of growth. We wanted to examine the similarities and differences in gene expression patterns between BCCs and HF to define common growth mechanisms and gene expression patterns that distinguish an ordered skin appendage from a disordered skin growth. Nodular BCCs (n= 8) and non-follicular skin epithelium (n=8) were obtained. Scalp hair follicle root sheath was micro dissected from between the sebaceous gland duct and the lower one third of the HF (n=7). Microarray analysis was performed using 21K cDNA arrays and selected genes were validated using qPCR and histochemistry staining. Two differentially expressed gene sets were identified by significance analysis of microarray (SAM) in BCC and HF verses skin epithelium respectively. Based on these two lists, we conducted multiple signaling pathway analyses. The results indicated that Notch, hedgehog, and WNT signaling pathways were involved in regulating formation of both HF and BCCs. However, Notch signaling, including tumor suppressor genes Notch 1, Notch 2, Jagged ligands (JAG 1, 2), notch signaling inhibitor NUMB, Lunatic Fringe (LFNG), Deltex proteins (DTX 1, 2) which serve as important signaling components downstream of Notch, and Notch target genes HES1 ,RBPSUHL, hairless protein and HES7, all showed selective differential activation in BCCs compared to HF. The components of the notch signaling pathway may be potential new targets in the development of new therapeutic approaches to BCCs.
Project description:Recent reports highlight improved individual identification using proteomic information from human hair evidence. These reports have stimulated investigation of parameters that affect the utility of proteomic information. In addition to variables already studied relating to processing technique and the anatomic origin of hair shafts, an important variable is hair ageing. Present work focuses on the effect of age on protein profiling and analysis of genetically variant peptides GVPs. Hair protein profiles may be affected by developmental and physiological changes with age of the donor, exposure to different environmental conditions and intrinsic processes, including during storage. First, to explore whether general trends were evident in the population at different ages, hair samples were analyzed from groups of different subjects in their 20s, 40s and 60s. No significant differences were seen as a function of age, but consistent differences were evident between European American and African American hair profiles. Second, samples collected from single individuals at different ages were analyzed. In most cases, these showed few protein expression level differences over periods of 10 years or less, but samples from subjects at 44 and 65 year intervals were distinctly different in profile. The results indicate that use of protein profiling for personal identification, if practical, would be limited to decadal time intervals. Moreover, batch effects were clearly evident in samples processed by different staff. To investigate the contribution of storage at room temperature in affecting the outcomes, the same proteomic digests were analyzed for GVPs. In samples stored over 10 years, GVPs were reduced in number in parallel with the yield of identified proteins and unique peptides. However, a very different picture emerged with respect to personal identification. Numbers of GVPs sufficed to distinguish individuals despite the age differences of the samples. As a practical matter, three hair samples per person provided nearly the maximal number obtained from 5 or 6 samples. The random match probability where the log increased in proportion to the number of GVPs reached as high as 1 in 108. The data indicate that GVP results are dependent primarily on the donor genotype, and thus are consistent despite the ages of the donors and samples and batchwise effects in processing. This conclusion is critical for application to casework where the samples may be in storage for long periods and used to match samples recently collected.