1. |
- Fryknäs, Mårten, 1974-
(author)
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Molecular Screening for Target Discovery in Cancer
- 2006
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the western world. Resistance to anti-cancer drugs and diagnostic difficulties are major obstacles to successful treatment. This thesis describes studies based on microarray expression analysis and high-throughput compound screening for identification of resistance mechanisms, drug targets and diagnostic markers. In paper I-IV, we applied global expression analysis and measurements of drug response in a human tumor cell line panel to identify drug targets and resistance mechanisms. In paper I, we identified gene transcript levels that correlate with drug resistance and sensitivity. Both well known and new potential markers and mechanisms were identified. In paper II, we showed that STAT1 activity is associated with cross-resistance to both doxorubicin and radiation in vitro and that fludarabine can counteract STAT1 activity and reduce resistance. In Paper III-IV, cell lines were exposed to a compound library consisting of more than thousand different substances in a high-throughput screening effort. These studies revealed that cell line models of squamous cell carcinoma (Paper III) and drug resistant myeloma (Paper IV) are sensitive to phosphodiesterase inhibitors and glucocorticoids respectively. The target molecules for these drugs were over-expressed at the mRNA level and constitute likely explanations for the observed drug potency. In paper V, we identified mRNA markers for the distinction between two types of thyroid tumors, thyroid follicular adenomas and thyroid follicular carcinomas, by means of microarray expression analysis. Our results indicated that distinction between the two tumor types is possible with a small number of markers.
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2. |
- Jergil, Måns, et al.
(author)
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Exploring Transcriptional Response toValproic Acid and Valproic Acid Analogs in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
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Other publication (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Developmental toxicity is a major concern for manufacturers of new pharmaceuticals,and current testing requires many laboratory animals. Human embryonic stem (hES)cells, potentially being close in function to cells in the developing embryo, mayprovide a technology for classification of candidate drugs in the early phase of toxicityevaluation. Altered gene expression in such system may be predictive of teratogenicproperties of a substance if important gene regulatory pathways are affected, and mayhence be used as appropriate endpoint. In the present study we used the pluripotenthES cell line SA002 (Cellartis AB), and microarrays to profile the response tovalproic acid (VPA), a known human teratogen causing increased risk of e.g. spinabifida and cognitive disorders in exposed embryos We also investigated three closelyrelated VPA analogs with differing in vivo teratogenicity in mice as well as histonedeacetylase (HDAC) inhibition, a proposed teratogenic mechanism of VPA. hEScells in an undifferentiated state were exposed for 24 h to either 1 mM VPA, 0.25mM or 0.5 mM (S)-2-pentyl-4-pentynoic acid a more potent teratogen and HDACinhibitor than VPA, 1 mM 3-propyl-heptanoic acid, a potent teratogen but not anHDAC inhibitor, 1 mM 2-ethyl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid, a non-teratogen and non-HDAC inhibitor, or 0.1% DMSO. Gene expression was subsequently profiled usingCodelink Human Whole Genome BioArrays. We found the HDAC inhibitors tostrongly deregulate largely the same genes. Further, a concordance of altered geneontology groups, predominantly neurogenic processes, was evident between all theteratogenic substances. Also, comparison with mouse ES cells showed an overlap ofderegulated genes as well as species specific gene to be deregulated.
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3. |
- Jergil, Måns, 1975-, et al.
(author)
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Short-Time Gene Expression Response to Valproic Acid and Valproic Acid analogs in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
- 2011
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In: Toxicological Sciences. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1096-6080 .- 1096-0929. ; 121:2, s. 328-342
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The prediction of potential developmental toxicity in vitro could be based ontoxicogenomic endpoints a short time after exposure in cultured embryo-derived celllines. Our previous microarray studies in P19 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells andmouse embryos have indicated that the teratogen valproic acid (VPA), an inducerof neural tube defects, deregulates the expression of a large number of genes, manyof which have critical roles in neural tube formation and closure. In this study weexposed undifferentiated R1 mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to VPA and VPA analogto define genes whose expression responses may be related to teratogenic potential.After 6 h of exposure, RNA samples were subjected to microarray analysis usingCodeLinkTM Mouse Whole Genome Bioarrays. VPA (1 mM) and the teratogenic VPAanalog (S)-2-pentyl-4-pentynoic (0.25 mM or 0.5 mM) deregulate a large numberof genes, whereas for the non-teratogenic (and potentially pharmacologically active)analog 2-ethyl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid (1 mM) the expression of only a few geneswas affected. Biological process ontology groups related to embryonic development,morphogenesis, and cell behavior were overrepresented among the affected teratogentarget genes. Multivariate analysis indicated that as few as five genes (out of ~2500array probes correlating with the separation) could separate the data set accordingto teratogenicity. Genes deregulated by the two teratogens showed a substantialoverlap with genes previously found to be deregulated by VPA in P19 cells and mouseembryos. A panel of candidate genes was defined as potential markers predictiveof teratogenicity and evaluated through TaqMan low density array analysis. Theteratogens butyrate and trichostatin A, which like VPA and (S)-2-pentyl-4-pentynoicacid are known histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, induced similar responsesas these two teratogens for a large subset of markers. This indicates that HDACinhibition may be a major mechanism by which VPA induces gene deregulation andpossibly teratogenicity. Other teratogenic compounds tested had no effect on thepanel of selected markers, indicating that they may not be predicitive of teratogenicityfor compounds acting through other mechanisms than VPA.
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4. |
- Kist, Andreas M., et al.
(author)
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SCN10A Mutation in a Patient with Erythromelalgia Enhances C-Fiber Activity Dependent Slowing
- 2016
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gain-of-function mutations in the tetrodotoxin (TTX) sensitive voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) Nav1.7 have been identified as a key mechanism underlying chronic pain in inherited erythromelalgia. Mutations in TTX resistant channels, such as Nav1.8 or Nav1.9, were recently connected with inherited chronic pain syndromes. Here, we investigated the effects of the p.M650K mutation in Nav1.8 in a 53 year old patient with erythromelalgia by micro-neurography and patch-clamp techniques. Recordings of the patient's peripheral nerve fibers showed increased activity dependent slowing (ADS) in CMi and less spontaneous firing compared to a control group of erythromelalgia patients without Nav mutations. To evaluate the impact of the p. M650K mutation on neuronal firing and channel gating, we performed current and voltage-clamp recordings on transfected sensory neurons (DRGs) and neuroblastoma cells. The p. M650K mutation shifted steady-state fast inactivation of Nav1.8 to more hyperpolarized potentials and did not significantly alter any other tested gating behaviors. The AP half-width was significantly broader and the stimulated action potential firing rate was reduced for M650K transfected DRGs compared to WT. We discuss the potential link between enhanced steady state fast inactivation, broader action potential width and the potential physiological consequences.
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5. |
- Kleggetveit, Inge P., et al.
(author)
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Pathological nociceptors in two patients with erythromelalgia-like symptoms and rare genetic Nav 1.9 variants
- 2016
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In: Brain and Behavior. - : Wiley. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 6:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The sodium channel Nav 1.9 is expressed in peripheral nociceptors and has recently been linked to human pain conditions, but the exact role of Nav 1.9 for human nociceptor excitability is still unclear. Methods: C-nociceptors from two patients with late onset of erythromelalgia-like pain, signs of small fiber neuropathy, and rare genetic variants of Nav 1.9 (N1169S, I1293V) were assessed by microneurography. Results: Compared with patients with comparable pain phenotypes (erythromelalgia-like pain without Nav-mutations and painful polyneuropathy), there was a tendency toward more activity-dependent slowing of conduction velocity in mechanoinsensitive C-nociceptors. Hyperexcitability to heating and electrical stimulation were seen in some nociceptors, and other unspecific signs of increased excitability, including spontaneous activity and mechanical sensitization, were also observed. Conclusions: Although the functional roles of these genetic variants are still unknown, the microneurography findings may be compatible with increased C-nociceptor excitability based on increased Nav 1.9 function.
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6. |
- Kultima, Kim, et al.
(author)
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Early transcriptional responses in mouse embryos as a basis for selection of molecular markers predictive of valproic acid teratogenicity
- 2010
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In: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0890-6238 .- 1873-1708. ; 30:3, s. 457-468
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cell-based in vitro assays would potentially reduce animal testing in preclinical drug development. Mouse embryos exposed to the teratogenic drug valproic acid (VPA) in utero for 1.5, 3 or 6h on gestational day 8 were analyzed using microarrays. Significant effects on gene expression were observed already at 1.5h, and 85 probes were deregulated across all time points. To find transcriptional markers of VPA-induced developmental toxicity, the in vivo data were compared to previous in vitro data on embryonal carcinoma P19 cells exposed to VPA for 1.5, 6 or 24h. Maximal concordance between embryos and cells was at the 6-h time points, with 163 genes showing similar deregulation. Developmentally important Gene Ontology terms, such as "organ morphogenesis" and "tube development" were overrepresented among putative VPA target genes. The genes Gja1, Hap1, Sall2, H1f0,Cyp26a1, Fgf15, Otx2, and Lin7b emerged as candidate in vitro markers of potential VPA-induced teratogenicity.
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7. |
- Melén, Karin, 1973-
(author)
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Topology Prediction of Membrane Proteins: Why, How and When?
- 2007
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Membrane proteins are of broad interest since they constitute a large fraction of the proteome in all organisms, up to 20-30%. They play a crucial role in many cellular processes mediating information flow and molecular transport across otherwise nearly impermeable membranes. Traditional three-dimensional structural analyses of membrane proteins are difficult to perform, which makes studies of other structural aspects important. The topology of an α-helical membrane protein is a two-dimensional description of how the protein is embedded in the membrane and gives valuable information on both structure and function.This thesis is focused on predicting the topology of α-helical membrane proteins and on assessing and improving the prediction accuracy. Reliability scores have been derived for a number of prediction methods, and have been integrated into the widely used TMHMM predictor. The reliability score makes it possible to estimate the trustworthiness of a prediction.Mapping the full topology of a membrane protein experimentally is time-consuming and cannot be done on a genome-wide scale. However, determination of the location of one part of a membrane protein relative to the membrane is feasible. We have analyzed the impact of incorporating such experimental information a priori into TMHMM predictions and show that the accuracy increases significantly. We further show that the C-terminal location of a membrane protein (inside or outside) is the optimal information to use as a constraint in the predictions.By combining experimental techniques for determining the C-terminal location of membrane proteins with topology predictions, we have produced reliable topology models for the majority of all membrane proteins in the model organisms E. coli and S. cerevisiae. The results were further expanded to ~15,000 homologous proteins in 38 fully sequenced eukaryotic genomes. This large set of reliable topology models should be useful, in particular as the structural data for eukaryotic membrane proteins is very limited.
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8. |
- Namer, Barbara, et al.
(author)
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Specific changes in conduction velocity recovery cycles of single nociceptors in a patient with erythromelalgia with the I848T gain-of-function mutation of Na(v)1.7
- 2015
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In: Pain. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0304-3959 .- 1872-6623. ; 156:9, s. 1637-1646
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Seven patients diagnosed with erythromelalgia (EM) were investigated by microneurography to record from unmyelinated nerve fibers in the peroneal nerve. Two patients had characterized variants of sodium channel Na(v)1.7 (I848T, I228M), whereas no mutations of coding regions of Na(v)s were found in 5 patients with EM. Irrespective of Na(v)1.7 mutations, more than 50% of the silent nociceptors in the patients with EM showed spontaneous activity. In the patient with mutation I848T, all nociceptors, but not sympathetic efferents, displayed enhanced early subnormal conduction in the velocity recovery cycles and the expected late subnormality was reversed to supranormal conduction. The larger hyperpolarizing shift of activation might explain the difference to the I228M mutation. Sympathetic fibers that lack Na(v)1.8 did not show supranormal conduction in the patient carrying the I848T mutation, confirming in human subjects that the presence of Na(v)1.8 crucially modulates conduction in cells expressing EM mutant channels. The characteristic pattern of changes in conduction velocity observed in the patient with the I848T gain-of function mutation in Na(v)1.7 could be explained by axonal depolarization and concomitant inactivation of Na(v)1.7. If this were true, activity-dependent hyperpolarization would reverse inactivation of Na(v)1.7 and account for the supranormal CV. This mechanism might explain normal pain thresholds under resting conditions.
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9. |
- Ottervald, Jan, et al.
(author)
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Multiple sclerosis : Identification and clinical evaluation of novel CSF biomarkers
- 2010
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In: Journal of Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1876-7737 .- 1874-3919. ; 73:6, s. 1117-1132
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that results in damage to myelin sheaths and axons in the central nervous system and which preferentially affects young adults. We performed a proteomics-based biomarker discovery study in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from MS and control individuals was analyzed (n=112). Ten candidate biomarkers were selected for evaluation by quantitative immunoassay using an independent cohort of MS and control subjects (n=209). In relapsing remitting MS (ARMS) patients there were significant increases in the CSF levels of alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (A1AC), alpha-1 macroglobulin (A2MG) and fibulin 1 as compared to control subjects. In secondary progressive MS (SPMS) four additional proteins (contactin 1, fetuin A, vitamin D binding protein and angiotensinogen (ANGT)) were increased as compared to control subjects. In particular, ANGT was increased 3-fold in SPMS, indicating a potential as biomarker of disease progression in MS. In PPMS, A1AC and A2MG exhibit significantly higher CSF levels than controls, with a trend of increase for ANGT. Classification models based on the biomarker panel could identify 70% of the RRMS and 80% of the SPMS patients correctly. Further evaluation was conducted in a pilot study of CSF from RRMS patients (n=36), before and after treatment with natalizumab.
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