About 50% of human malignancies exhibit unregulated signalling through the Ras-ERK1/2 (ERK) pathway, as a consequence of activating mutations in members of Ras and Raf families. However, the quest for alternative Ras-ERK pathway-directed therapies is desirable. Upon phosphorylation ERK dimerize. We had previously demonstrated that dimerization is essential for ERK extranuclear but not nuclear signaling. Furthermore, by molecular biology approaches, we showed that specifically inhibiting ERK extranuclear component, by impeding ERK dimerization, is sufficient for curtailing tumor progression. Here, we have identified a small molecule inhibitor for ERK dimerization in vitro and in vivo that, without affecting ERK phosphorylation, prevents tumorigenesis driven by Ras-ERK pathway oncogenes, both in cellular and animal models. Importantly, this compound is unaffected by resistance-acquisition processes that hamper “classical” Ras-ERK pathway inhibitors. Thus, ERK dimerization inhibitors provide the proof of principle for two novel concepts in cancer therapy: 1) The blockade of sublocalization-specific sub-signals, rather than total signals, as a means of effectively counteracting oncogenic Ras-ERK signaling. 2) Targeting regulatory protein-protein interactions such as dimerization, rather than catalytic activities, within a signaling route, as an approach for producing effective anti-tumoral agents. Strategies aimed at preventing aberrant flux through this route remain an attractive option for therapeutic intervention in cancer. In this respect, drugs inhibiting the kinase activities of BRaf and MEK have yielded promising results. Overall design: A375p cells treated with10 µM of either DEL22379, SCH772984 or DMSO as a control for two hours. mRNA from A375p cells was extrated using RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer''s instructions. Cells were previously treated with10 µM of either DEL22379, SCH772984 or DMSO as a control for two hours.
Small Molecule Inhibition of ERK Dimerization Prevents Tumorigenesis by RAS-ERK Pathway Oncogenes.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBackground:
Transcriptional responses to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced stress in Arabidopsis thaliana reveal the involvement of hormone and defense signaling pathways.
Age, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesHere we analyse single cell transcriptome profiles of EZH2-deficient human embroynic stem cells Overall design: Single cell transcriptome (mRNA-Seq) from Ezh2-/- (Null) and EZH2+/+ (WT) human ESC
Deletion of the Polycomb-Group Protein EZH2 Leads to Compromised Self-Renewal and Differentiation Defects in Human Embryonic Stem Cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe homeobox containing gene Arx is expressed during ventral telencephalon development and it is required for correct GABAergic interneuron tangential migration from the ganglionic eminences to the olfactory bulbs, cerebral cortex and striatum. Its human ortholog is associated with a variety of neurological clinical manifestations whose syntoms are compatible with a loss of cortical interneurons and altered basal ganglia related-activities in humans. Herein, we reported the identification by global expression profiling of a group of genes whose expression is consistently altered in Arx mutant ganglionic eminences. Following analysis revealed the striking ectopic expression in the ganglionic eminences of a number of genes normally not, or only marginally, expressed in the ventral telencephalon. Among them, we functionally analyzed Ebf3, whose ectopic expression in ventral telencephalon is preventingneuronal tangential migration. Further, we showed that Arx is sufficient to repress Ebf3 endogenous expression and that its silencing in Arx mutant tissue might marginally rescue tangential cell movements. Together, these data provide an initial analysis of the molecular pathways regulated by Arx and how their networking might regulate those specific cellular processes during telencephalon development strongly altered by loss of Arx.
Arx acts as a regional key selector gene in the ventral telencephalon mainly through its transcriptional repression activity.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Distinct Gene Regulatory Pathways for Human Innate versus Adaptive Lymphoid Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesInnate lymphoid cells (ILCs) serve as sentinels in mucosal tissues, sensing release of soluble inflammatory mediators, rapidly communicating danger via cytokine secretion, and functioning as guardians of tissue homeostasis. Although ILCs have been studied extensively in model organisms, little is known about these first responders in humans, especially their lineage and functional kinships to cytokine-secreting T helper cell (Th) counterparts. Here, we report gene regulatory circuitries for four human ILCTh counterparts derived from mucosal environments, revealing that each ILC subset diverges as a distinct lineage from Th and circulating natural killer cells, but shares circuitry devoted to functional polarization with their Th counterparts. Super-enhancers demarcate cohorts of cell identity genes in each lineage, uncovering new modes of regulation for signature cytokines, novel molecules that likely impart important functions to ILCs, and potential mechanisms for autoimmune disease SNP associations within ILCTh subsets.
Distinct Gene Regulatory Pathways for Human Innate versus Adaptive Lymphoid Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesPressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was examined in IL-18 knockout and littermate control mice.
Interleukin-18 knockout mice display maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) rat model of parkinsonism is among the first, and most commonly used, animal models of Parkinsons disease. It provides insight into the compensatory changes that occur in the brain after dopamine (DA) neuron degeneration. In order to better define the consequences of substantia nigra DA neuron loss on the neural and glial populations during and following nigrostriatal degeneration, tissue was collected and evaluated from the substantia nigra of 6OHDA or vehicle treated, or nave rats at 1, 2, 4, 6 & 16 weeks.
The longitudinal transcriptomic response of the substantia nigra to intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine reveals significant upregulation of regeneration-associated genes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe subsets of immune cells within the human placenta are incompletely described. We used microarray to determine the transcriptional differences between two myeloid subsets in the term human placenta.
Two Distinct Myeloid Subsets at the Term Human Fetal-Maternal Interface.
Specimen part
View SamplesRationale: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a common and potentially fatal complication of scleroderma that may involve inflammatory and autoimmune mechanisms. Alterations in the gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells have been previously described in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The ability to identify patients at risk for developing pulmonary hypertension would be clinically beneficial.
Altered immune phenotype in peripheral blood cells of patients with scleroderma-associated pulmonary hypertension.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
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