Exhausted T cells express multiple co-inhibitory molecules that impair their function and limit immunity to chronic viral infection. Defining novel markers of exhaustion is important both for identifying and potentially reversing T cell exhaustion. Herein, we show that the ectonucleotidse CD39 is a marker of exhausted CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T cells specific for HCV or HIV express high levels of CD39, but those specific for EBV and CMV do not. CD39 expressed by CD8+ T cells in chronic infection is enzymatically active, co-expressed with PD-1, marks cells with a transcriptional signature of T cell exhaustion and correlates with viral load in HIV and HCV. In the mouse model of chronic Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus infection, virus-specific CD8+ T cells contain a population of CD39high CD8+ T cells that is absent in functional memory cells elicited by acute infection. This CD39high CD8+ T cell population is enriched for cells with the phenotypic and functional profile of terminal exhaustion. These findings provide a new marker of T cell exhaustion, and implicate the purinergic pathway in the regulation of T cell exhaustion.
CD39 Expression Identifies Terminally Exhausted CD8+ T Cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThree groups of German Landrace piglets were vaccinated with tetanus toxoid. Transcriptome profiles of PBMC were analysed from blood samples taken 0, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 75 hours after a first vaccination and 0, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 75 hours as well as 14 d after a second vaccination on day 14.
Transcriptomic response of porcine PBMCs to vaccination with tetanus toxoid as a model antigen.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAldosterone is known to have a number of direct adverse effects on the heart, including fibrosis and myocardial inflammation. However, genetic mechanisms of aldosterone action on the heart remain unclear.
Effect of acute aldosterone administration on gene expression profile in the heart.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTransdifferentiation has been recently described as a novel method for converting human fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells. Such an approach can produce differentiated cells to study physiology or pathophysiology, examine drug interactions or toxicities, and engineer tissues. Here we describe the transdifferentiation of human dermal fibroblasts towards the cardiac cell lineage via the induced expression of transcription factors (TFs) GATA4, TBX5, MEF2C, MYOCD, NKX2-5, and delivery of microRNAs miR-1 and miR-133a. Cells undergoing transdifferentiation expressed ACTN2 and TNNT2 and partially organized their cytoskeleton in a cross-striated manner. The conversion process was associated with significant upregulation of a cohort of cardiac-specific genes, activation of pathways associated with muscle contraction and physiology, and downregulation of fibroblastic markers. We used a genetically encoded calcium indicator and readily detected active calcium transients although no spontaneous contractions were observed in transdifferentiated cells. Finally, we determined that inhibition of Janus kinase 1, inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3, or addition of NRG1 significantly enhanced the efficiency of transdifferentiation. Overall, we describe a method for achieving transdifferentiation of human dermal fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells via transcription factor overexpression, microRNA delivery, and molecular pathway manipulation.
Core Transcription Factors, MicroRNAs, and Small Molecules Drive Transdifferentiation of Human Fibroblasts Towards The Cardiac Cell Lineage.
Specimen part, Treatment, Time
View SamplesRegional identity of several kind of human neural stem cells were assessed by RNA-Seq Overall design: We compared whole transcriptome of human fetal spinal cord, fetal brain, fetal spinal cord derived NSCs, H9-derived NSCs, H9-derived spinal cord NSCs, and UCSF4-derived spinal cord NSCs
Generation and post-injury integration of human spinal cord neural stem cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesTransient over-expression of defined combinations of master regulator genes can effectively induce cellular reprogramming: the acquisition of an alternative predicted phenotype from a differentiated cell lineage. This can be of particular importance in cardiac regenerative medicine wherein the heart lacks the capacity to heal itself, but simultaneously contains a large pool of fibroblasts. In this study we determined the cardio-inducing capacity of ten transcription factors to actuate cellular reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. Over-expression of transcription factors MYOCD and SRF alone or in conjunction with Mesp1 and SMARCD3 significantly enhanced the basal but necessary cardio-inducing effect of the previously reported GATA4, TBX5, and MEF2C. In particular, combinations of five or seven transcription factors significantly enhanced the activation of cardiac reporter vectors, and induced an upregulation of cardiac-specific genes. Global gene expression analysis also demonstrated a significantly greater cardio-inducing effect when the transcription factors MYOCD and SRF were used. Detection of cross-striated cells was highly dependent on the cell culture conditions and was enhanced by the addition of valproic acid and JAK inhibitor. Although we detected Ca2+ transient oscillations in the reprogrammed cells, we did not detect significant changes in resting membrane potential or spontaneously contracting cells. This study further elucidates the cardio-inducing effect of the transcriptional networks involved in cardiac cellular reprogramming, contributing to the ongoing rational design of a robust protocol required for cardiac regenerative therapies.
Transcription factors MYOCD, SRF, Mesp1 and SMARCD3 enhance the cardio-inducing effect of GATA4, TBX5, and MEF2C during direct cellular reprogramming.
Specimen part
View SamplesPancreatic islet cells are critical for maintaining normal blood glucose levels and their malfunction underlies diabetes development and progression. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to determine the transcriptomes of 1,492 human pancreatic a-, ß-, d- and PP cells from non-diabetic and type 2 diabetes organ donors. We identified cell type specific genes and pathways as well as 245 genes with disturbed expression in type 2 diabetes. Importantly, 92% of the genes have not previously been associated with islet cell function or growth. Comparison of gene profiles in mouse and human a- and ß-cells revealed species-specific expression. All data are available for online browsing and download and will hopefully serve as a resource for the islet research community. Overall design: Single-cell RNA sequencing of human non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic pancreatic islet cells
RNA Sequencing of Single Human Islet Cells Reveals Type 2 Diabetes Genes.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race, Subject
View SamplesAging improves pancreatic ß-cell function in mice. This is a surprising finding since aging is typically associated with functional decline. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of ß-cells from 3 and 26 month old mice to explore how changes in gene expression contribute to improved function with age. The old mice were healthy, had reduced blood glucose levels and increased ß-cell mass, which correlated to their body weight. ß-cells from young and old mice had similar transcriptome profiles. In fact, only 193 genes (0.89% of all detected genes) were significantly regulated (= 2-fold; false discovery rate < 0.01; normalized counts > 5). Of these, 183 were downregulated and mainly associated with pathways regulating gene expression, cell cycle, cell death and survival as well as cellular movement, function and maintenance. Collectively, our data show that ß-cells from very old mice have transcriptome profiles similar to those of young mice. These data support previous findings that aging is not associated with reduced ß-cell mass or functional ß-cell decline in mice. Overall design: Single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse pancreatic islet beta cells
Single-Cell RNAseq Reveals That Pancreatic β-Cells From Very Old Male Mice Have a Young Gene Signature.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesRNA from wt and SIN1 knock-out MEF cell lines were compared
mTORC2 Responds to Glutamine Catabolite Levels to Modulate the Hexosamine Biosynthesis Enzyme GFAT1.
Specimen part
View SamplesCell communication within tissues is mediated by multiple paracrine signals including growth factors, which control cell survival and proliferation. Cells and the growth factors they produce and receive constitute a circuit, yet the design features of cell circuits involved in tissue homeostasis are unknown. Here we used computational and experimental approaches to characterize the features of cell circuits based on growth factor exchange between macrophages and fibroblasts, two cell types found in most mammalian tissues. We found that the macrophage-fibroblast cell circuit is stable and robust to perturbations. We employed analytical screening of all possible two-cell circuit topologies and defined the circuit features sufficient for stability, including environmental constraint and negative feedback regulation. Moreover, we discovered that cell-cell contact was essential for the stability of the macrophage-fibroblast circuit. These findings highlight general principles of cell circuit design, and provide a new perspective on quantitative understanding of tissue homeostasis. Overall design: 1 sample of murine embryonic fibroblast and 1 sample murine bone marrow derived macrophages are analyzed for their expression of growth factors and growth factor receptors
Circuit Design Features of a Stable Two-Cell System.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View Samples