Although host-parasitoid interactions are becoming well characterized at the organismal and cellular levels, much remains to be understood of the molecular bases for the host immune response and the parasitoids ability to defeat this immune response. Leptopilina boulardi and L. heterotoma, two closely related, highly infectious natural parasitoids of Drosophila melanogaster, appear to use very different infection strategies at the cellular level. Here, we further characterize cellular level differences in the infection characteristics of these two wasp species using newly derived, virulent inbred strains, and then use whole genome microarrays to compare the transcriptional response of Drosophila to each. While flies attacked by the melanogaster group specialist Leptopilina boulardi (strain Lb17) up-regulate numerous genes encoding proteolytic enzymes, components of the Toll and JAK/STAT pathways, and the melanization cascade as part of a combined cellular and humoral innate immune response, flies attacked by the generalist L. heterotoma (strain Lh14) do not appear to initiate an immune transcriptional response at the time points post-infection we assayed, perhaps due to the rapid venom-mediated lysis of host hemocytes (blood cells). Thus, the specialist parasitoid appears to invoke a full-blown immune response in the host, but suppresses and/or evades downstream components of this response. Given that activation of the host immune response likely depletes the energetic resources of the host, the specialists infection strategy seems relatively disadvantageous. However, we uncover the mechanism for one potentially important fitness tradeoff of the generalists highly immune suppressive infection strategy.
Contrasting infection strategies in generalist and specialist wasp parasitoids of Drosophila melanogaster.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWomen are born with millions of primordial follicles which gradually decrease with increasing age and this irreversible supply of follicles completely exhausts at menopause. The fertility capacity of women diminishes in parallel with aging. The mechanisms for reproductive aging are not fully understood. In our recent work we observed a decline in BRCA1 mediated DNA repair in aging rat primordial follicles. To further understand the age-related molecular changes, we performed microarray gene expression analysis using total RNA extracted from immature (1820 days) and aged (400450 days) rat primordial follicles. The results of current microarray study revealed that there were 1011 (>1.5 fold, p<0.05) genes differentially expressed between two groups in which 422 genes were up-regulated and 589 genes were down-regulated in aged rat primordial follicles compared to immature. The gene ontology and pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed a critical biological function such as cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, chromosomal stability, transcriptional activity, DNA replication and DNA repair were affected by age and this considerable difference in gene expression profiles may have adverse influence on oocyte quality. Our data provide information on the processes that may contribute to aging and age-related decline in fertility.
Age-related changes in gene expression patterns of immature and aged rat primordial follicles.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn this study we conducted transcriptomics analyses of: (i) liver samples from patients suffering from acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure (n=3) and from healthy livers (n=2) and (ii) hepatic cell systems exposed to acetaminophen, including their respective vehicle controls. The investigated in vitro systems are: HepaRG cells, HepG2 cells and a novel human skinpostnatal stem cell-derived model i.e. human skin-precursors-derived hepatocyte-like cells (hSKP-HPC).
Gene expression data from acetaminophen-induced toxicity in human hepatic <i>in vitro</i> systems and clinical liver samples.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Cell line
View SamplesUpon pathogenic infection, drosophila larval host mounts an immune response. Parasitic wasps inject venom that contain virulence factors during oviposition, which can elicit host immune response, and in some cases, suppress host immune responses altogether. Several microarray experiments have been performed on different classes of parasitic wasps. We wanted to compare how Ganaspis xanthopoda-infected hosts respond compared to other classes of parasitic wasps.
A database for the analysis of immunity genes in Drosophila: PADMA database.
Time
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Identification of Circulating Fibrocytes and Dendritic Derivatives in Corneal Endothelium of Patients With Fuchs' Dystrophy.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesWe used a whole genome approach to identify major functional gene categories (including xenobiotic transporters and metabolizing enzymes) whose expression depends on gestational age. STUDY DESIGN: We compared gene expression profiles of 1st (45-59 days) and 2nd trimester (109-115 days), and C-section term placentae. RESULTS: In 1st trimester placentae, genes related to cell cycle, DNA, aminoacids and carbohydrate metabolism were significantly overrepresented, while genes related to signal transduction were downregulated. In the organism defense category, we identified genes involved in chemical response, metabolism, and transport. Analysis of signal transduction pathways suggested, and subsequently confirmed independently, that the Wnt pathway was regulated by gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will serve as a reference database to gain insight into the regulation of gene expression in the developing placentae and, thus, allow comparisons with placentae from complicated pregnancies such as those in women experiencing gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and teratogenic sequelae.
Profiling gene expression in human placentae of different gestational ages: an OPRU Network and UW SCOR Study.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPURPOSE: Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a degenerative eye disorder affecting 4% of Americans older than 40. It is the leading indication for corneal endothelial (CE) transplantation for which there is a global donor shortage. This study aimed to gain further insight into the pathophysiology of FECD and identify targets for nonsurgical therapy.
Identification of Circulating Fibrocytes and Dendritic Derivatives in Corneal Endothelium of Patients With Fuchs' Dystrophy.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of oocyte competence on subsequent fertility. Based on knowledge already accessible in mammals and on bioinformatics tools including the chicken genome sequence, we focused on the expression of genes involved in the processes of fertilization and of early embryo development. The study was performed using two complementary approaches: a descriptive study of standard laying hens and then a differential study performed with hens from experimental lines expressing broad variations of achieved fertility (approximately 20 per cent). A differential kinetic study is performed on INRA lines selected on the basis of their fertility potential in purpose of hopefully access gene markers of fertility performance.
Identification of germinal disk region derived genes potentially involved in hen fertility.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Role of Tet1/3 Genes and Chromatin Remodeling Genes in Cerebellar Circuit Formation.
Specimen part
View SamplesPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a heterogeneous cancer in which differences in survival rates might be related to a variety in gene expression profiles. Although the molecular biology of PDAC begins to be revealed, genes or pathways that specifically drive tumour progression or metastasis are not well understood. Therefore, we performed microarray analyses on whole-tumour samples of 2 human PDAC subpopulations with similar clinicopathological features, but extremely distinct survival rates after potentially curative surgery, i.e., good outcome (OS and DFS>50months) versus bad outcome (OS<19months and DFS<7months). Additionally, liver- and peritoneal metastases were analysed and compared to primary cancer tissue. The integrin and ephrin receptor families were upregulated in all PDAC samples, irrespective of outcome, supporting an important role of the interaction between pancreatic cancer cells and the surrounding desmoplastic reaction in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Moreover, some components, such as ITGB1 and EPHA2, were upregulated in PDAC samples with a poor outcome, Additionally, overexpression of the non-canonical Wnt/-catenin pathway and EMT genes in PDAC samples with bad versus good outcome suggests their contribution to the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer, with -catenin being also highly upregulated in metastatic tissue. Thus, we conclude that components of the integrin and ephrin pathways and EMT-related genes might serve as molecular markers in pancreatic cancer as their expression seems to be related with prognosis.
Molecular markers associated with outcome and metastasis in human pancreatic cancer.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease stage
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