Background In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare at diagnosis (1-4%), but more frequent at relapse (~30%). Minimal residual disease diagnostics predict most bone marrow (BM) relapses, but likely cannot predict isolated CNS relapses. Consequently, CNS relapses may become relatively more important. Because of the significant late sequelae of CNS treatment, early identification of patients at risk of CNS relapse is crucial. Methods Gene expression profiles of ALL cells from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ALL cells from BM were compared and differences were confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR. For a selected set of overexpressed genes, protein expression levels of ALL cells in CSF at relapse and of ALL cells in diagnostic BM samples were evaluated by 8-color flow cytometry. Results CSF-derived ALL cells showed a clearly different gene expression profile than BM-derived ALL cells, with differentially-expressed genes (including SCD and OPN) involved in survival and apoptosis pathways and linked to the JAK-STAT pathway. Flowcytometric analysis showed that a subpopulation of ALL cells (>1%) with a CNS signature (SCD positivity and increased OPN expression) was already present in BM at diagnosis in ALL patients who later developed a CNS relapse, but was <1% or absent in virtually all other patients. Conclusions The presence of a subpopulation of ALL cells with a CNS signature at diagnosis may predict isolated CNS relapse. Such information can be used to design new diagnostic and treatment strategies that aim at prevention of CNS relapse with reduced toxicity.
New cellular markers at diagnosis are associated with isolated central nervous system relapse in paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Sex, Age, Time
View SamplesThe pathogenesis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and its relationship to other lymphomas are largely unknown. This is partly due to the technical challenge of analyzing its rare neoplastic L&H cells, which are dispersed in an abundant non-neoplastic cellular microenvironment. We performed a genome-wide expression study of microdissected lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) lymphoma cells in comparison to normal and other malignant B cells, which indicates a relationship of L&H cells to and/or origin from germinal center B cells at transition to memory B cells. L&H cells show a surprisingly high similarity to the tumor cells of T cell-rich B cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma, a partial loss of their B cell phenotype and deregulation of many apoptosis-regulators and putative oncogenes. Importantly, L&H cells are characterized by constitutive NF-B activity and aberrant ERK signaling. Thus, these findings shed new light on the nature of L&H cells, revealed several novel pathogenetic mechanisms in NLPHL, and may help in differential diagnosis and lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
Origin and pathogenesis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma as revealed by global gene expression analysis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Reduced chromatin binding of MYC is a key effect of HDAC inhibition in MYC amplified medulloblastoma.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesMYC is a driver oncogene in many cancers. Inhibition of MYC promises high therapeutic potential, but specific MYC inhibitors remain unavailable for clinical use. Previous studies suggest that MYC amplified Medulloblastoma cells are vulnerable to HDAC inhibition. Using co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and ChIP-sequencing we show that HDAC2 is a cofactor of MYC in MYC amplified primary medulloblastoma and cell lines. The MYC-HDAC2 complex is bound to genes defining the MYC-dependent transcriptional profile. Class I HDAC inhibition leads to stabilization and reduced DNA binding of MYC protein inducing a down-regulation of MYC activated genes (MAGs) and up-regulation of MYC repressed genes (MRGs). MAGs and MRGs are characterized by opposing biological functions and distinct E-box distribution. We conclude that MYC and HDAC2 (class I) are localized in a complex in MYC amplified medulloblastoma and drive a MYC-specific transcriptional program, which is reversed by the class I HDAC inhibitor entinostat. Thus, the development of HDAC inhibitors for treatment of MYC amplified medulloblastoma should include HDAC2 in its profile in order to directly target MYC´s trans-activating and trans-repressing function.
Reduced chromatin binding of MYC is a key effect of HDAC inhibition in MYC amplified medulloblastoma.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesMetformin, the most widely administered diabetes drug, has been proposed as a candidate for host directed therapy for tuberculosis although very little is known about its effects on human host responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When added in vitro to PBMCs isolated from healthy non-diabetic volunteers, metformin increased glycolysis, inhibited the mTOR targets, strongly reduced M. tuberculosis induced production of TNF-alpha (-58%), IFN-gamma (-47%) and IL-beta (-20%), while increasing phagocytosis. In healthy subjects, in vivo metformin intake induced significant transcriptional changes in whole blood and isolated PBMCs, with substantial down-regulation of genes related to inflammation and the type 1 interferon response. Metformin intake also increased monocyte phagocytosis (by 1.5 to 2 fold) and ROS production (+20%). These results show that metformin in humans has a range of potentially beneficial effects on cellular metabolism, immune function and gene-transcriptional level, that affect innate host responses to M. tuberculosis. This underlines the importance of cellular metabolism for host immunity and supports a role for metformin as host-directed therapy for tuberculosis. Overall design: Peripheral Mononuclear Cells taken from 11 healthy donors, prior to administration of metformin and after 5 days of metformin. Samples were stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis lysate or cultured unstimulated for 4 hours. Total 88 samples, with 11 clinical replicates.
Metformin Alters Human Host Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Healthy Subjects.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesMetformin, the most widely administered diabetes drug, has been proposed as a candidate for host directed therapy for tuberculosis although very little is known about its effects on human host responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When added in vitro to PBMCs isolated from healthy non-diabetic volunteers, metformin increased glycolysis, inhibited the mTOR targets, strongly reduced M. tuberculosis induced production of TNF-a (-58%), IFN-gamma (-47%) and IL-1ß (-20%), while increasing phagocytosis. In healthy subjects, in vivo metformin intake induced significant transcriptional changes in whole blood and isolated PBMCs, with substantial down-regulation of genes related to inflammation and the type 1 interferon response. Metformin intake also increased monocyte phagocytosis (by 1.5 to 2 fold) and ROS production (+20%). These results show that metformin in humans has a range of potentially beneficial effects on cellular metabolism, immune function and gene-transcriptional level, that affect innate host responses to M. tuberculosis. This underlines the importance of cellular metabolism for host immunity and supports a role for metformin as host-directed therapy for tuberculosis. Overall design: Ex vivo blood RNA samples analyzed from 11 healthy donors, prior to administration of metformin (control) and after 5 days of metformin (test). Total 22 samples, with 11 clinical replicates.
Metformin Alters Human Host Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Healthy Subjects.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesCD4+ T cell differentiation into multiple T helper lineages is critical for optimal adaptive immune responses. This report identified a novel intrinsic mechanism by which PD-1 signaling imparted regulatory phenotype to FoxP3+ Th1 cells (denoted as Tbet+iTregPDL1 cells) and iTregs. Tbet+iTregPDL1 cells were capable of preventing inflammation in murine models of experimental colitis and experimental graft versus host disease. PDL-1 binding to PD-1 imparted regulatory function to Tbet+iTregPDL1 cells and iTregs by specifically downregulating an endolysosomal protease asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP)
PD-1 Inhibitory Receptor Downregulates Asparaginyl Endopeptidase and Maintains Foxp3 Transcription Factor Stability in Induced Regulatory T Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesA complex interplay between ethylene, ETP1/ETP2 F-box proteins, and degradation of EIN2 is essential for triggering ethylene responses in plants.
Interplay between ethylene, ETP1/ETP2 F-box proteins, and degradation of EIN2 triggers ethylene responses in Arabidopsis.
Age, Treatment
View SamplesChronic low dose inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure leads to changes in gene expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation. During this transformation, cells adopt a fibroblast-like phenotype accompanied by profound gene expression changes. While many mechanisms have been implicated in this transformation, studies that focus on the role of epigenetic alterations in this process are just emerging. DNA methylation controls gene expression in physiologic and pathologic states. Several studies show alterations in DNA methylation patterns in iAs-mediated pathogenesis, but these studies focused on single genes. We present a comprehensive genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using methyl-sequencing to measure changes between normal and iAs-transformed cells. Additionally, these differential methylation changes correlated positively with changes in gene expression and alternative splicing. Interestingly, most of these differentially methylated genes function in cell adhesion and communication pathways. To gain insight into how genomic DNA methylation patterns are regulated iAs-mediated carcinogenesis, we show that iAs probably targets CTCF binding at the promoter of DNA methyltransferases, regulating their expression. These findings reveal how transcription factor binding regulates DNA methyltransferase to reprogram the methylome in response to an environmental toxin.
Genome-wide DNA methylation reprogramming in response to inorganic arsenic links inhibition of CTCF binding, DNMT expression and cellular transformation.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesBoth cigarette smoking and obesity have been implicated in increased risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); however, there are limited data regarding the molecular mechanisms that underlie these associations. We used a multi-stage design to identify and validate specific molecular targets that are associated with smoking or obesity-related ccRCC.
ANKS1B is a smoking-related molecular alteration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Specimen part, Subject
View Samples